Thirty academic papers published in the American Journal of Mathematics form the primary record of Fabian Franklin’s mathematical career. Transitioning from engineering and surveying to formal research during the inaugural years of Johns Hopkins University, he applied advanced calculational techniques to compute binary forms before pivoting to a prolific career in journalism and political economy.
Early Career and Education
Born in Eger in 1853, Franklin moved to the United States as a child. He completed his undergraduate studies at Columbian College of Arts and Sciences in 1869. Over the subsequent seven years, he worked as a surveyor and engineer for the Baltimore City Council and spent time with the Pittsburgh and Connellsville Railroad. His transition into formal mathematics began in 1877 when he enrolled at Johns Hopkins University.
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Franklin earned his doctorate in 1880 at Johns Hopkins, serving as an assistant to James Joseph Sylvester until 1883. During this tenure, he focused on logic and foundations, studying under Charles Sanders Peirce. His research output was concentrated within a fifteen-year period during which he contributed regularly to the American Journal of Mathematics. He remained a faculty member at the university until 1895.
Transition to Journalism and Economics
In 1895, Franklin shifted his focus toward journalism, editing the Baltimore News-American until 1908. He later moved to the New York Post, serving as an associate editor from 1909 to 1919. His writing during this era addressed significant social and economic developments, resulting in books such as Cost of Living (1915), What Prohibition Has Done to America (1922), and Plain Talks on Economics (1924). He also contributed to the Weekly Review between 1919 and 1922.
Personal Life and Legacy
In 1882, Franklin married Christine Ladd-Franklin. Their marriage was defined by shared intellectual and social concerns. Beyond his mathematical and economic writing, he authored The Life of Daniel Coit Gilman in 1910, documenting the tenure of the first president of Johns Hopkins University. He was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Franklin died in 1939 and is buried at Ferncliff Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1853, Eger
- Died: 1939, New York City
- Education: Columbian College of Arts and Sciences; Johns Hopkins University
- Spouse: Christine Ladd-Franklin
- Professional Roles: Mathematician, engineer, journalist
- Major Work: The Life of Daniel Coit Gilman (1910)
- Affiliation: American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Questions readers ask
What subjects did Fabian Franklin cover in his books?
His books focused on social, economic, and political issues, including the cost of living and the impact of Prohibition in America.
Was Franklin involved in university administration?
He wrote a biography of Daniel Coit Gilman, the founding president of Johns Hopkins University, where Franklin had previously served as a student and faculty member.
Achievements
- Held posts at Johns Hopkins University, New York Post and Baltimore News-American
