Practised in Limerick, where he was Surgeon to Barrington's Hospital and the City of Limerick Infirmary, which was founded with forty beds in 1829. He was also Physician to the City Gaol and to the Lying-in Hospital. The qualification 'Acc Dub LH' implies that he was a certified practitioner in Midwifery of the Dublin Lying-in Hospital in Great Britain Street, which at that time was the only chartered institute of its kind. He served as President of the South-Western Medical and Surgical Association, and was elected an honorary member on account of ill health on August 5th, 1840. Franklin was Charter Justice of Limerick, served as Sheriff of the City in 1832, was elected Mayor on June 29th, 1839, and was sworn into office for twelve months on the first Monday after Michaelmas in that year. He was knighted by Lord Fortescue, then the Lord-Lieutenant, in August, 1840. The Entrance Book of Trinity College, Dublin, gives "Joseph Franklin entered 7th December, 1829, aged 16, son of Richard Franklin, Chirurgicus, born in Limerick", and "Richard Thomas Franklin, entered 14th January, 1842, aged 16, son of Richard, Chirurgicus, born in Limerick". These may have been a son and a nephew or two sons, but no further facts about them can be obtained. If Richard Thomas had been a son, the entry would probably have described his father as 'eq aurat', and not merely as 'chirurgicus'. Sir Richard Franklin died at Limerick shortly before October 15th, 1845, but information of his death did not reach the English College of Surgeons until 1848.