Sarah Franklin Bache Sarah Franklin Bache  by John Hoppner in 1793 [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons Born: September 11, 1743, Philadelphia Died: October 5, 1808, Philadelphia Sarah Franklin Bache was the only surviving child of Deborah Read and Benjamin Franklin. Yes, that Benjamin Franklin, the founding father. She had an older step-brother, William Franklin, who was Benjamin Franklin's illegitimate son. He was raised as Benjamin and Deborah's son from infancy. Much of her knowledge, political knowledge, she had learned from her father. She was also said to have been a skilled harpsichord player. Some of this knowledge aided her in her work during the American Revolutionary War. After the passing of her mother, in 1774, she took on the position of political hostess when her father returned, in 1775, from a diplomatic mission in France. Much of the work that she was involved in consisted of relief work. Which als...