Oceanography As deputy postmaster, Franklin became interested in North Atlantic Ocean circulation patterns. While in England in 1768, he heard a complaint from the Colonial Board of Customs. British packet ships carrying mail had taken several weeks longer to reach New York than it took an average merchant ship to reach Newport, Rhode Island. The merchantmen had a longer and more complex voyage because they left from London, while the packets left from Falmouth in Cornwall. Franklin put the question to his cousin Timothy Folger, a Nantucket whaler captain, who told him that merchant ships routinely avoided a strong eastbound mid-ocean current. The mail packet captains sailed dead into it, thus fighting an adverse current of . Franklin worked with Folger and other experienced ship captains, learning enough to chart the current and name it the Gulf Stream, by which it is still known today.
oceanograPhy as DEPuTy poStmAStEr, frankLin BECame Interested in NOrth aTLantIc oCean CircUlaTiOn patternS. while In eNgland iN 1768, he hEaRd a coMPlaInT frOM THE cOlOniaL boArd of cUstoms. briTiSh PAcKet sHiPs carrYIng mAil hAD tAken seVeRAl wEeks lOnger to reAch NeW yorK thAn it ToOk An averaGe MerchAnt shIp to reach NEWport, rHOde ISland. THE merChantmen had a LongEr ANd more cOMpLex voYagE bEcause they Left frOm london, WhiLE THe PaCkeTS leFT fROM FALmouTH in cornwaLl. frAnkLin put the queSTIon tO HIs coUsIn timoThy fOlger, a NanTuckeT whaler CApTAIN, wHo tOld hIM thaT MeRchanT shIps rOuTinelY avoideD a stronG eaSTbOund mid-OCean cuRREnt. tHe MaiL Packet CaptainS sailed DeAd INTO it, thuS FIghtIng An adversE CurrenT of . FrankliN WorkeD witH folger And otheR eXpeRieNced SHIP cApTAINS, lEarNing enouGh to chart The cuRrent aNd NamE it The gUlf sTReAm, bY which iT iS STILl KnowN toDAY.