Eleanor Finch
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states. Of the 55 people who attended the convention, only 39 signed the document. Several delegates left as the convention progressed, while others refused to sign in protest. The signers of the Constitution included lawyers and statesmen such as William Paterson, Gunning Bedford Jr., William Livingston, and George Read, who also served as attorneys general for their respective states.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of individuals selected to attend the Constitutional Convention | 74 |
| Number of individuals who attended the Constitutional Convention | 55 |
| Number of individuals who signed the Constitution | 39 |
| Age range of the signers | 26-81 |
| Names of a few signers who were attorneys | George Read, William Paterson, Gunning Bedford Jr., William Livingston, David Brearley, Richard Bassett |
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What You'll Learn
- George Read, an attorney and respected politician from New Castle, Delaware, was the only signer of the Declaration of Independence to vote against it
- Gunning Bedford Jr., a lawyer and Delaware's Attorney General, advocated for the rights of small states
- William Livingston, an attorney and popular political figure, served as the first governor of New Jersey
- David Brearley, an attorney and avid patriot, was arrested by the British for high treason and later served as a rank of colonel in the New Jersey militia
- John Dickinson, a lawyer and colonial politician, wrote against the Stamp Act and Britain's rule
George Read, an attorney and respected politician from New Castle, Delaware, was the only signer of the Declaration of Independence to vote against it
Read studied law and was called to the bar at the age of nineteen in Philadelphia, eventually moving to New Castle, Delaware, in 1754. He established a reputation there and was appointed Attorney General to three Delaware counties, an office which he resigned in 1774 when he was elected to the First Continental Congress. In 1764, in the period leading up to the Stamp Act protests, Read joined the Delaware Committee of Correspondence and was active in the patriot movement. At the Continental Congress, he found Lee's Resolution for Independence to be too hasty and voted against it, making him the only eventual signer of the Declaration of Independence to cast a vote against it.
Read initially opposed the Declaration of Independence because he truly wanted to resolve issues with Britain and believed that reconciliation was still possible. However, when he concluded that there was no hope for reconciliation with the Crown, he ultimately signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776. He also signed the United States Constitution in 1787, representing Delaware at the Constitutional Convention.
In addition to his legal and political career, Read was known for his integrity and estimable private character. He was respected for setting standards in Delaware and for his consistency in moral duties. He was an ardent member of the Church of England and later of the American Episcopal Communion. He died in 1798 and is buried in New Castle, where the Read family mansion, regarded as a finest example of Georgian architecture, remains a treasured asset of the state.
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Gunning Bedford Jr., a lawyer and Delaware's Attorney General, advocated for the rights of small states
Gunning Bedford Jr. was a lawyer and Delaware's Attorney General who advocated for the rights of small states during the Constitutional Convention in 1787. He was a strong supporter of equal representation for smaller states and limitations on the powers of the central government. Bedford Jr. threatened that if the small states were not protected by the Constitution, they would seek allegiance with other countries. This statement was deemed treasonous by his fellow delegates.
Bedford Jr. played a crucial role in the development of the Great Compromise, which aimed to address the concerns of smaller states. He was a delegate to the Congress of the Confederation, also known as the Continental Congress, and represented the State of Delaware. During the American Revolution, he left his law practice to fight in the Revolutionary War. After the war, he transitioned into politics and served as Delaware's Attorney General before being called to serve in the delegation to the Constitutional Convention.
Bedford Jr. was a member of the Delaware convention that ratified the Constitution in 1787, and he helped Delaware become the first state to ratify the new Constitution. He served as a presidential elector, voting for George Washington in 1789 and 1793. In the same year, he resigned as Delaware Attorney General and was appointed by President Washington as a federal district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, a position he held until his death in 1812.
Bedford Jr. was also a leading advocate for the abolition of slavery and was known for his bold and commanding speaking style. He was one of America's Founding Fathers and played a significant role in shaping the United States Constitution. His contributions to the Constitutional Convention and his advocacy for the rights of small states have left a lasting impact on the country's history and governance.
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William Livingston, an attorney and popular political figure, served as the first governor of New Jersey
Livingston was a noted essayist and political polemicist, and in 1752 he co-founded the Independent Reflector, a weekly journal dedicated to political and cultural criticism. He was a forceful opponent of British policies and wrote a series of essays criticising the Stamp Act, entitled "An American Whig". Livingston also co-founded the New-York Society Library, the city's first public subscription library.
In addition to his literary and legal pursuits, Livingston was actively involved in politics. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention, and was a member of the General Assembly of the Colony of New York from 1759 to 1761. He was a strong supporter of the resistance movement and led the colony's Committee of Correspondence and its militia. Livingston was also appointed Brigadier General of the state militia, a position he held from 1776 to 1783. He corresponded regularly with General George Washington during the war and offered his unwavering support.
Livingston was one of the signers of the United States Constitution, which was adopted at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. He was a delegate from New Jersey and added his signature to the document, along with thirty-eight other delegates, to endorse and authenticate it. Livingston's signature, along with the others, served as a witness to the agreement and provided essential documentation of the Constitution's validity.
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David Brearley, an attorney and avid patriot, was arrested by the British for high treason and later served as a rank of colonel in the New Jersey militia
David Brearley, an esteemed attorney and passionate patriot, played a significant role in the American Revolution and the formation of the United States. Brearley's life exemplifies the dedication and sacrifices made by the founding generation to ensure the nation's freedom and establish a just legal system. His story is a testament to the courage and conviction of those who risked their lives to forge a new nation.
Brearley's patriotism and bold stance against British rule led to his arrest and charges of high treason, a serious crime punishable by death. The British authorities, seeking to suppress the growing revolution, targeted Brearley due to his influential position and unwavering support for American independence. Despite the risks, Brearley remained committed to the patriot cause, even in the face of potential execution. His arrest sent a wave of outrage throughout the colonies, further galvanizing support for the revolutionary movement.
During the Revolutionary War, Brearley actively served in the military, holding the rank of colonel in the New Jersey militia. He played a crucial role in organizing and leading troops, demonstrating his dedication to the cause not only in words but also in deeds. Brearley's military service reflected his unwavering commitment to protecting the freedoms and rights of his fellow citizens. He fought alongside his compatriots, enduring the hardships and dangers of war to ensure a better future for the nation.
Brearley's legal expertise and patriotism also contributed to his involvement in shaping the young nation's legal framework. He played a pivotal role in the creation and ratification of the United States Constitution, serving as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. Brearley's legal mind and passion for justice influenced the document's content, particularly in ensuring a fair and impartial judicial system. His signature on the Constitution, alongside other founding fathers, stands as a testament to his dedication to establishing a nation founded on the rule of law and individual liberties.
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John Dickinson, a lawyer and colonial politician, wrote against the Stamp Act and Britain's rule
John Dickinson, a lawyer and colonial politician, was a vocal opponent of the Stamp Act and Britain's rule in the American colonies. He began his career as the Penman of the Revolution with a political pamphlet titled "The Late Regulations," which criticised the Revenue Act (Sugar Acts) of 1764 for raising taxes on sugar.
During the Stamp Act Crisis in 1765, Dickinson emerged as a leading voice against the Parliamentary acts that imposed a tax on items by requiring the purchase of a stamp. He was invited to write fifteen proposals, now known as the "Declaration of Rights and Resolves," which condemned the legislation as unconstitutional. This document, sent to the King of England, was the first official collaborative effort by the American colonies. Dickinson's most famous work during this period was the publication of a series of letters signed "A FARMER," which were published over ten weeks in late 1767 and early 1768. These letters, collectively known as "Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania to the Inhabitants of the British Colonies," were widely circulated and helped spark calls for boycotting imported goods throughout the colonies.
In these letters, Dickinson argued that the Townshend Acts, which imposed taxes on various goods, were illegal because only colonial assemblies had the power to raise revenue. He warned that if the colonists acquiesced to these taxes, Parliament would continue to pass more burdensome laws, ultimately leading to the loss of American liberty. Dickinson's writings played a significant role in fostering unity among the colonies and advancing the argument of "no taxation without representation," a core principle of the American Revolution.
John Dickinson's legal and political background, combined with his powerful writings, firmly establish his role as a significant figure in the colonial opposition to the Stamp Act and Britain's rule. His ideas and influence helped shape the course of the American Revolution and the eventual formation of the United States Constitution.
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Frequently asked questions
39 delegates signed the US Constitution.
Yes, several of the signers were attorneys. This includes George Read, Gunning Bedford Jr., William Livingston, David Brearley, Richard Bassett, and Jacob Broom.
Yes, John Ten Eyck Lansing Jr., an attorney, refused to sign the Constitution. He believed he was authorized only to participate in amending the Articles of Confederation.
Yes, William Paterson was a lawyer and served as Attorney General for New Jersey. He left the convention in July and only returned to sign the document in December when New Jersey became the third state to ratify.
