Jonah Patel
The United States Constitution was signed by 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states (all but Rhode Island, which declined to send delegates) . The signing took place on
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of signatories | 39 |
| Age range of signatories | 26–81 |
| Youngest signatory | Jonathan Dayton |
| Oldest signatory | Benjamin Franklin |
| Signatories who also signed the Declaration of Independence | George Clymer, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Morris, George Read, Roger Sherman, and James Wilson |
| Signatories who did not serve in the Continental or Confederation Congresses | Richard Bassett, John Blair, David Brearley, Jacob Broom, and Charles Cotesworth Pinckney |
| Signatories who became president | George Washington and James Madison |
| Signatory who was president at the time of signing | George Washington |
| Signatory who refused to sign | Edmund Randolph, George Mason, and Elbridge Gerry |
| States represented | 12 |
| States not represented | Rhode Island |
| Location of signing | Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Date of signing | September 17, 1787 |
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What You'll Learn
Who refused to sign the Constitution?
The US Constitution, which outlines the nation's federal government and how its three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial) function, was signed by 39 of the 42 men present at the Constitutional Convention. The three men who refused to sign the Constitution were George Mason, Elbridge Gerry, and Edmund Randolph. They refused to sign because the Constitution lacked a bill of rights.
Twelve of the thirteen states were represented at the convention, with Rhode Island refusing to send delegates. Of the 74 delegates who were chosen, 55 attended. Several attendees left before the signing ceremony, and three of the 42 who remained refused to sign.
The delegates who chose not to sign the Constitution had concerns about its power without a Bill of Rights. They wanted specific statements of rights protected and upheld, including freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom to assemble, the right to petition, and safety from unlawful seizure.
Benjamin Franklin, who was the oldest signer at 81, summed up the sentiments of those who did sign, stating:
> "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 would accept the Constitution,
> "because I expect no better and because I am not sure that it is not the best."
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The signing ceremony
The signing of the United States Constitution took place on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The signing ceremony marked the culmination of a four-month-long Constitutional Convention, which had been convened to address the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation, the first governing document of the United States.
Seventy individuals were initially selected to attend the Constitutional Convention, but only 55 delegates participated in the sessions. Of these 55 delegates, 39 ultimately signed the Constitution. The signatories included delegates from 12 states, with the exception of Rhode Island, which declined to send representatives.
The signing of the Constitution was not without its controversies. Some delegates chose not to sign, citing concerns about the document's power without a Bill of Rights. Notable non-signatories included Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts, George Mason of Virginia, and Edmund Randolph, also of Virginia. These individuals, dubbed "Anti-Federalists," preferred the decentralised nature of the Articles of Confederation and believed that the Constitution did not adequately protect individual freedoms. Despite their refusal to sign, many of these individuals later became strong advocates for a Bill of Rights to strengthen the protection of "We the People."
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The youngest and oldest signatories
The US Constitution, signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, laid out the framework for the nation's federal government and described how its three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial) were to function. Of the 55 delegates present at the convention, only 39 signed the Constitution.
The youngest signatory of the US Constitution was Jonathan Dayton, aged 26. Dayton was one of the 74 individuals selected to attend the Constitutional Convention. The delegates represented a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with experience in local or colonial and state government.
The oldest signatory of the US Constitution was Benjamin Franklin, aged 81. Franklin was a respected statesman and delegate representing Pennsylvania at the convention. He was so infirm that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair. Franklin summed up the sentiments of those who signed the Constitution, stating:
> "There are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them. I expect no better and because I am not sure that it is not the best."
Of the 39 men who signed the Constitution, only two were or would eventually become president: George Washington, who was the first president and signed first, and James Madison, who would go on to become the fourth president of the United States.
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The role of the signatories
The United States Constitution was signed by 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 of the 13 original states (all except Rhode Island, which refused to send delegates). The signing took place on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The signatories of the Constitution played a crucial role in shaping the nation's federal government and defining how its three branches—the legislative, executive, and judicial—would function. They represented a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with experience in local, colonial, or state government. Virtually all of them had participated in the American Revolution, seven had signed the Declaration of Independence, and thirty had served on active military duty.
The signatories included individuals with diverse political beliefs and backgrounds, such as Federalists and Anti-Federalists. Some, like George Washington, had served in the Continental Congress, while others had fought against the British during the American Revolution. Despite their differences, the signatories came together to endorse a document that reflected a series of compromises and agreements reached during the four-month-long convention.
Several individuals played notable roles during the Constitutional Convention. Benjamin Franklin, for example, delivered an address endorsing the Constitution despite its imperfections and proposed that it be endorsed by the delegates as individual witnesses of unanimous consent. Gouverneur Morris, a large-state nationalist, contributed significantly to the language of the Constitution, particularly in rephrasing it to make it seem unanimous. James Madison is often credited as the "father of the Constitution," with James Wilson recognised as his deputy.
The signatories' names are listed on the Constitution, grouped by state, with states arranged geographically from north to south. Their signatures, along with a brief declaration of successful completion, served as an endorsement of the document. The convention's secretary, William Jackson, added a note verifying four hand-written amendments and signed to authenticate the document's validity.
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The number of signatories
The number of men who signed the United States Constitution was 39. These 39 signatories were delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states (all except Rhode Island, which declined to send delegates). The signatures included a brief declaration that the delegates' work had been completed and that those whose signatures appear on it agreed to the final document.
The 39 signatories also included a statement pronouncing the document's adoption by the states present, a formulaic dating of its adoption, and the signatures of those endorsing it. The convention's secretary, William Jackson, added a note to verify four amendments made by hand to the final document and signed it to authenticate its validity.
The 39 signatories were not in complete agreement with the final document. Some expressed reservations but signed the Constitution, anticipating vigorous debates within their states. Benjamin Franklin, for example, stated that there were "several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them." He accepted the Constitution because he "expected no better" and was "not sure that it is not the best."
The 39 men who signed the Constitution were all white men and property owners. They represented a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with experience in local, colonial, or state government. Virtually all of them had participated in the American Revolution, seven had signed the Declaration of Independence, and thirty had served on active military duty.
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Frequently asked questions
39 men signed the Constitution.
The youngest signer was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton, and the oldest was 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin.
The five men who signed the Constitution but did not serve in the Continental or Confederation Congresses were Richard Bassett of Delaware, John Blair of Virginia, David Brearley of New Jersey, Jacob Broom of Delaware, and Charles Cotesworth Pinckney of South Carolina.
The men who refused to sign the Constitution were Edmund Randolph and George Mason from Virginia, and Elbridge Gerry from Massachusetts.
The six men who signed both the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the Constitution 11 years later were George Clymer, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Morris, George Read, Roger Sherman, and James Wilson.
