Benjamin Franklin's humiliation at the Cockpit in 1774 marked a critical turning point in his transformation from an Anglophile to a patriot. Franklin's defense of the Massachusetts petition was met with a vicious attack by Attorney General Alexander Wedderburn, who accused him of being a leader of a secret cabal determined to destroy the empire. Franklin's response, 'I do not choose to be examined,' was a testament to his growing disillusionment with the English government and his increasing commitment to American independence. [... more]