Younger son of Heinrich Ehrenfried Luther, a printer and type founder of Frankfort interested in improving the lot of German emigrants to the American colonies.

His father appealed to Franklin for help in getting the money he believed due him from Massachusetts for services rendered that province (1765).

When Franklin and Pringle were in Germany they probably visited the elder Luther in Frankfort and to have met the son (1766). Apparently Franklin arranged to send the younger man a telescope when he returned to London.