Eleanor Finch
Benjamin Franklin was 81 years old and a senior statesman at the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, where he played an important role in helping to draft the US Constitution. He was the only person to sign all three key documents in the birth of the United States: the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Paris, and the Constitution. Franklin's international experience and moderate temperament were key to his contributions to the Convention, as he encouraged delegates to put aside their differences and approve the document.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Age | 81 years old |
| Role | Senior Statesman |
| Importance | One of the few to sign all three key documents in the birth of the United States: the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Paris, and the Constitution |
| Temperament | Moderate, always searching for ways to bring contending parties together |
| Influence | Sent a copy of the Constitution to a Paris banker to raise political and financial support for the new nation |
| Achievements | Helped negotiate a cessation of hostilities and a peace treaty that officially ended the Revolutionary War |
| Speech | Encouraged delegates to put aside their disagreements and approve the document for the good of the nation |
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What You'll Learn
- Franklin was the oldest delegate at the convention at 81 years old
- He was a senior statesman who lent his authority to the convention
- Franklin encouraged delegates to put aside their differences
- He sent a copy of the constitution to a Paris banker for support
- Franklin was the only man to sign the three key documents
Franklin was the oldest delegate at the convention at 81 years old
Benjamin Franklin was 81 years old when he attended the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, making him the oldest delegate by a considerable margin. The average age of the delegates was 41, and the youngest, Jonathan Dayton of New Jersey, was 26. Franklin was, therefore, three times the age of the youngest delegate and twice the average age.
Despite his advanced years and ill health, Franklin played an important role at the Convention. He acted as a senior statesman, lending his authority to the compromises deemed necessary to forge a Constitution capable of serving the new nation. He was also an optimist, sending a copy of the proposed Constitution to a banker in Paris, along with a note reflecting his hopeful and universal outlook.
Franklin had already been an active participant in many of the pivotal moments in the founding of the country. He had signed the Declaration of Independence and the Treaty of Paris, and he helped move the process of the Constitutional Convention forward, recommending the adoption of the document despite its faults.
Franklin's international experience and fame, as well as his moderate temperament, served him well during the Convention. He was renowned as a scientist and inventor, having won the Royal Society's Copley Medal for his electrical experiments, and his inventions included the lightning conductor, the first map of the Gulf Stream, and a new musical instrument, the glass armonica. Franklin was also the only man to sign the three key documents in the birth of the United States: the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Paris, and the Constitution.
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He was a senior statesman who lent his authority to the convention
Benjamin Franklin was 81 years old when he attended the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, making him the senior statesman at a convention of young men. He was three times the age of the convention's youngest delegate, Jonathan Dayton of New Jersey, and twice the average age for all delegates. Franklin was also the most renowned American of his age.
Franklin's international experience and moderate temperament served him well during the Convention. He had previously served as the United States' minister in France from 1776, bringing the French into the war against Britain and helping to negotiate a peace treaty that officially ended the Revolutionary War. This made him second only to George Washington in importance in winning the War of American Independence.
Despite his enfeebled state and ill health, Franklin's few contributions to the Convention were important. He acted as a senior statesman, lending his authority to the compromises deemed necessary to forge a Constitution capable of serving the new nation. He encouraged the delegates to put aside their disagreements and approve the document for the good of the nation.
Franklin's optimism and universal outlook are reflected in a note he sent to Ferdinand Grand, a Paris banker he had met while on his diplomatic mission to France. In the note, he wrote, "I send you the enclos'd the propos'd new Federal Constitution for these States. I was engag'd 4 Months of the last Summer in the Convention that form'd it. It is now sent by Congress to the several States for their Confirmation."
Franklin's role at the Constitutional Convention was instrumental in helping the process move forward and recommending the adoption of the document despite its faults. He proved to be a unifier, always in search of ways to bring contending parties together. His final reflections, as recounted in Madison's notes, capture his hopes and fears for the future of the nation.
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Franklin encouraged delegates to put aside their differences
Benjamin Franklin was 81 years old when he attended the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, making him the senior statesman at a convention of young men. He was three times the age of the convention's youngest delegate, Jonathan Dayton of New Jersey, and twice the average age for all delegates. Despite his enfeebled state and ill health, Franklin made important contributions to the convention.
Franklin was a renowned American whose fame peaked in Paris, where he helped negotiate a peace treaty that officially ended the Revolutionary War. He was also an early advocate of confederation and was one of the committee members appointed to draft the Declaration of Independence. He was the only man to sign the three key documents in the birth of the United States: the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Paris, and the Constitution.
Franklin encouraged the delegates to put aside their differences and approve the document for the good of the nation. In his closing speech, which a colleague delivered on his behalf, Franklin said:
> I have, said he, often and often in the course of the Session and the vicissitudes of my hopes and fears at to its issue looked at that behind the President without being able to tell whether it was rising or setting: But now at length I have the happiness to know that it is a rising and not a setting Sun.
Subsequently, the delegates voted to adopt the Constitution and released it to the public. Franklin's moderate temperament and ability to bring contending parties together served him well during the convention.
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He sent a copy of the constitution to a Paris banker for support
Benjamin Franklin was 81 years old and nearing the end of his life when the 1787 Constitutional Convention took place. He was the senior statesman at a convention of young men, with his fame and age setting him apart from the rest of the delegates.
Franklin was a celebrated scientist and inventor, whose genius was internationally acclaimed. He was also an early advocate of confederation and played a pivotal role in the founding of the United States. He was one of the committee members appointed to draft the Declaration of Independence and was the only man to sign the three key documents in the birth of the United States: the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Paris, and the Constitution.
In October 1787, Franklin sent a copy of the newly drafted Constitution to Ferdinand Grand, a Paris banker he had met while on a diplomatic mission to France. This was before even one state had ratified the Constitution. Franklin sought to raise both political and financial support for the new nation. In his accompanying note, Franklin wrote:
> I send you the enclos’d the propos’d new Federal Constitution for these States. I was engag’d 4 Months of the last Summer in the Convention that form’d it. It is now sent by Congress to the several States for their Confirmation.
Franklin's moderate temperament and ability to bring contending parties together served him well during the Convention. He thought beyond American borders when he considered the possibilities set in motion by the Convention.
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Franklin was the only man to sign the three key documents
Benjamin Franklin was 81 years old when he attended the Constitutional Convention in 1787, making him the oldest delegate. He was the most renowned American of his age and was considered a great philosopher. He was also the only Founding Father to sign all four documents critical to the nation's independence from Great Britain.
Franklin was a leader in his state government and his reputation for worldliness, wisdom, and political acumen earned him a place among the nation's founding fathers. He was appointed to the Committee of Five, which drafted the Declaration of Independence. He officially represented Pennsylvania in this committee, which also included future presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
The Declaration of Independence was approved and adopted on July 4, 1776, and all 56 members of the Second Continental Congress, including Benjamin Franklin, signed the document. As the nation's top diplomat, Franklin was sent to France to secure their assistance during the Revolutionary War. He also signed the Treaty of Paris, which marked the end of the Revolutionary era and the beginning of normalized relations between Europe and the U.S.
The Constitution of the United States became law at the Constitutional Convention of 1787, and Franklin was one of 39 signatories. Franklin's moderate temperament and ability to bring contending parties together served him well during the Convention. He sent a copy of the Constitution to a Paris banker, reflecting his optimistic and universal outlook.
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Frequently asked questions
Benjamin Franklin was a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1787. He was 81 years old at the time, and his contributions were limited due to his ill health. However, he played an important role as a senior statesman, lending his authority to the compromises deemed necessary to forge a Constitution capable of serving the new nation.
Benjamin Franklin helped the process move forward and recommended the adoption of the document despite its faults. He also wrote a closing speech, delivered by a colleague due to his ill health, encouraging delegates to set aside their differences and approve the document for the good of the nation.
Benjamin Franklin was the only man to sign the three key documents in the birth of the United States: the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Paris, and the Constitution. He also contributed to the Treaty of Alliance with France in 1778.
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