Eleanor Finch
Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, played a crucial role in the drafting and signing of the US Constitution. On September 17, 1787, Franklin, aged 81, delivered a powerful speech in support of the Constitution, despite his initial reservations about certain parts of it. He made a motion to sign the document, which was approved by 10 state delegations. Due to his poor health, Franklin needed assistance to sign the Constitution, and he was the oldest person to do so.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Age of Benjamin Franklin when he signed the Constitution | 81 |
| Benjamin Franklin's role in the signing of the Constitution | Benjamin Franklin delivered a speech, written by him, read by James Wilson, endorsing the Constitution despite its imperfections. He then made a motion to sign the document. |
| Number of delegates present at the convention | 55 |
| Number of delegates who signed the Constitution | 39 |
| Number of delegates who refused to sign the Constitution | 3 |
| Names of delegates who refused to sign the Constitution | Edmund Randolph, George Mason, Elbridge Gerry |
| Age of the youngest signer | 26 |
| Name of the youngest signer | Jonathan Dayton |
| Date the Constitution was signed | September 17, 1787 |
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What You'll Learn
Benjamin Franklin was the oldest person to sign the Constitution
Benjamin Franklin was the oldest person to sign the United States Constitution. On September 17, 1787, at the age of 81, he made a motion to sign the document in his last great speech. He was one of 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention who signed the Constitution, representing 12 states.
The Constitutional Convention started in May 1787 in Pennsylvania's State House, now called Independence Hall. During the four months of deliberations, the delegates drew up a plan for a new form of republican government to replace the weak central government established by the Articles of Confederation. Benjamin Franklin, despite his poor health, wrote a speech to introduce the motion for the convention's delegates to sign the Constitution. Too weak to read the speech himself, he asked James Wilson to read it for him.
Franklin's speech included the now-famous words: "I confess that there are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them." He went on to make a powerful argument for the new Constitution, acknowledging the challenges of assembling a group of men with diverse views and interests, but ultimately expressing his acceptance of the Constitution.
In addition to being the oldest signer of the Constitution, Benjamin Franklin was also a renowned printer, publisher, author, inventor, scientist, and diplomat. He is considered one of the foremost Founding Fathers of the United States and played a significant role in drafting and signing the Declaration of Independence. He also made important contributions to science, particularly in the understanding of electricity.
Ben Franklin's Plea to Sign the Constitution
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He gave a speech before making the final motion to sign
Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, gave a speech before making the final motion to sign the US Constitution. Franklin was in poor health and was unable to read his speech himself, so he asked James Wilson to read it on his behalf. In his speech, Franklin addressed his own ambivalence towards the Constitution, stating:
> "I confess that there are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them. For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged by better information, or fuller consideration, to change opinions even on important subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise."
Franklin's speech was directed at three delegates—Gerry, Randolph, and Mason—who had refused to sign the Constitution. He argued that the document was \"near to perfection\" and made a powerful case for the new Constitution, acknowledging the challenges of assembling a group of men with diverse perspectives and interests. Franklin's speech concluded with a plea for all the delegates to sign the Constitution.
Following Franklin's speech, there was a debate, and several figures gave speeches encouraging the holdouts to sign. Despite these efforts, Gerry, Randolph, and Mason remained steadfast in their refusal to sign the document. Franklin even gave a second speech, personally begging Randolph to sign, but to no avail.
Despite the dissenters, the final motion to sign the Constitution was approved by ten of the state delegations. Benjamin Franklin, the oldest person to sign the Constitution, made the motion to sign the document, with tears streaming down his face.
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He was the first signer to die, in April 1790
Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was a printer, publisher, author, inventor, scientist, and diplomat. He played a significant role in drafting the Declaration of Independence and was one of its signers. He also represented the United States in France during the American Revolution.
On September 17, 1787, Benjamin Franklin, at the age of 81, signed the United States Constitution, making him the oldest signer. Due to his poor health, he needed assistance to sign the document. He made a powerful and persuasive speech introducing a motion for the delegates to sign the Constitution. In his speech, he acknowledged that there were parts of the Constitution that he did not approve of but that he might approve of them in the future. He also argued that no other convention could create a better Constitution. Franklin's speech concluded with a plea for all the delegates to sign the Constitution.
However, not all the delegates were convinced. Some objected to the final version of the Constitution and refused to sign it. These included Edmund Randolph, George Mason, and Elbridge Gerry, who felt that the Constitution did not adequately protect individual rights and freedoms. Despite this, Franklin's motion to sign the document was approved by 10 of the state delegations.
Sadly, Benjamin Franklin passed away in April 1790, making him the first signer of the Constitution to die. His signature on the Constitution, along with the other Founding Fathers, stands as a testament to his dedication to shaping the foundation of the United States.
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He was one of the Founding Fathers
Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was a printer, publisher, author, inventor, scientist, and diplomat. He was born in 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts, and died in 1790 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Franklin was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention and played a significant role in the drafting and signing of the United States Constitution. He was the oldest person to sign the Constitution at the age of 81. Due to his poor health, he needed assistance to sign the document, and he did so with tears in his eyes.
Franklin made important contributions to the understanding of electricity, including the discovery that positive and negative charges must occur in equal amounts, known today as the law of conservation of charge. He also helped draft the Declaration of Independence and was one of its signers.
Franklin represented the United States in France during the American Revolution and is remembered for his wit, wisdom, and elegant writing. He was a self-starter who learned to read at a very early age, and his writing attracted attention in the 18th century, a time when competent writing was a rare talent.
In conclusion, Benjamin Franklin's contributions to the founding of the United States were significant, and he is rightfully remembered as one of the country's Founding Fathers. His impact extended beyond politics and diplomacy, as he also made important scientific contributions that continue to shape our understanding of the world.
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He was too weak to read his speech, so James Wilson read it for him
Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was a printer, publisher, author, inventor, scientist, and diplomat. He played a crucial role in drafting the Declaration of Independence and was one of its signers. He also represented the United States in France during the American Revolution.
On September 17, 1787, the United States Constitution was signed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by 39 delegates representing 12 states (all except Rhode Island, which did not send delegates). Benjamin Franklin, at 81, was the oldest person to sign the Constitution.
Due to his advanced age and poor health, Franklin was too weak to read his speech at the Constitutional Convention. He asked James Wilson to read it on his behalf to the other delegates. In his speech, Franklin acknowledged that there were parts of the Constitution that he did not approve of at the time but left open the possibility that his views could change. He also made a powerful argument for the new Constitution, recognizing the challenges inherent in any democratic process.
Franklin's speech concluded with a plea for all the delegates to sign the Constitution. However, not everyone was convinced. Hugh Williamson from North Carolina disagreed and proposed sending a letter along with the document to Congress in New York, addressing the concerns of those who disliked the Constitution. Despite this, Franklin made the final motion to sign the document, which was approved by 10 state delegations.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Benjamin Franklin signed the Constitution. He was 81 years old at the time, making him the oldest signer.
Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and a respected figure. His signature on the Constitution carried weight, and he gave a speech to introduce the motion for the delegates to sign the document.
Benjamin Franklin acknowledged that there were parts of the Constitution that he did not approve of but stated that he might approve of them in the future. He accepted the Constitution because he "expected no better" and believed it was "the best" they could get.
39 delegates out of 55 present at the Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution. The youngest signer was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton. Notable signatories include James Madison, James Wilson, and Alexander Hamilton.
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