Omar Bennett
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Of the 74 delegates chosen to attend the Constitutional Convention, 55 attended and 39 signed the Constitution. The youngest signer was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton, and the oldest was 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin, who was the first signer to die in April 1790. The last signer of the Constitution to die was James Madison, in June 1836.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the last signer to die | James Madison |
| Year of death | 1836 |
| Month of death | June |
| Age of the last signer | Not mentioned |
| Age of the youngest signer | 26 |
| Name of the youngest signer | Jonathan Dayton |
| Age of the oldest signer | 81 |
| Name of the oldest signer | Benjamin Franklin |
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What You'll Learn
The last signer, James Madison, died in June 1836
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Of the 74 individuals selected to attend the Constitutional Convention, 55 attended and 39 signed the Constitution. Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, was the youngest signer, while Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, was the oldest. Benjamin Franklin was also the first signer to die, in April 1790.
The last signer of the Constitution to pass away was James Madison, who died in June 1836. Madison was a key figure in the creation of the Constitution, and he played a significant role in shaping the document. He supported the idea of a strong national government and a legislature with taxation powers. Madison also served as the fourth President of the United States, from 1809 to 1817. During his presidency, he oversaw the country's response to the War of 1812 and was instrumental in drafting the Bill of Rights, which outlined the fundamental rights and freedoms of American citizens.
Madison's influence extended beyond his contributions to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. He was also a leading figure in the development of the country's political system, including the establishment of the two-party system and the creation of the First Bank of the United States. Madison's intellectual prowess and commitment to building a strong and stable nation laid the foundation for the United States as we know it today.
The longevity of Madison's life is particularly notable, as he outlived many of his contemporaries. By the time of his death in 1836, he had witnessed the early years of the United States and seen the country begin to flourish. Madison's passing marked the end of an era, as he was the last living link to the founding signatories of the Constitution. His death served as a reminder of the significant achievements of the nation's founders and the enduring legacy they left behind.
The death of James Madison in June 1836 brought an end to the generation that had signed the Constitution. His life and contributions to the founding of the United States continue to be remembered and celebrated, serving as a testament to the country's rich history and the dedication of its founding fathers.
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Benjamin Franklin, the oldest signer, was the first to die in April 1790
Benjamin Franklin, the oldest signer of the United States Constitution, was the first to die in April 1790. He was 84 years old and passed away in his home in Philadelphia. Franklin was an American polymath, a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher, and political philosopher. He was also one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and a drafter of the Declaration of Independence.
Franklin's death came just a few years after he played a significant role in the creation and ratification of the United States Constitution. In 1787, he was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, where he strongly endorsed the Constitution despite its imperfections. He proposed that the delegates endorse the Constitution as individual witnesses of the unanimous consent of the states present, and his suggestion was accepted. This endorsement, or closing protocol, included signatures, a declaration of successful completion, and a statement of adoption by the states present.
Franklin's advanced age of 81 at the time of signing highlighted his dedication to the nation-building process. His signature, alongside those of 38 other delegates, represented a unanimous endorsement of the Constitution by the states present. This consensus was a powerful statement of unity and support for the young nation.
The impact of Franklin's death was felt across the country. Philadelphia, where he had contributed significantly during his lifetime, gave him the largest funeral the city had ever seen, with approximately 20,000 people in attendance. His funeral was held on April 22, and he was laid to rest at Christ Church Burial Ground in Philadelphia.
Benjamin Franklin's passing marked the beginning of the end of an era, as the nation lost one of its Founding Fathers and a key figure in the creation of the United States Constitution. His death preceded that of James Madison, the last signer of the Constitution, who died in June 1836.
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39 delegates signed the Constitution
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The signing of the Constitution was the culmination of a four-month-long convention that began on May 25, 1787, when 55 delegates out of 74 chosen delegates from 12 states (all but Rhode Island, which declined to send delegates) gathered to debate and draft the document.
The delegates to the convention included individuals with experience in local, colonial, and state governments, many of whom had served in the American Revolution, with at least 29 having served in the Continental forces. The convention was presided over by George Washington, who, as president of the convention, was the first to sign the Constitution.
The 39 delegates who signed the Constitution represented a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership and included individuals such as Jonathan Dayton, the youngest signer at 26, and Benjamin Franklin, the oldest signer at 81. Franklin summed up the sentiments of those who signed the Constitution, despite their misgivings, by saying:
> "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 accept the Constitution... because I expect no better and because I am not sure that it is not the best."
The signing of the Constitution was a significant moment in American history, as it laid out the framework for the nation's federal government and delineated the functions of its three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The document also expanded the powers of the central government while protecting the prerogatives of the states.
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Signatures were grouped by state, from north to south
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The signing ceremony concluded a four-month-long Constitutional Convention, during which a constitution was drafted to meet the immediate needs of the 13 states and their approximately four million inhabitants.
Of the 74 chosen delegates, 55 attended the convention, and 39 signed the final document. The signatures were grouped by state, with the listing of states arranged geographically from north to south. This arrangement differed from the signing of the Declaration of Independence, where the states were listed from south to north.
The signatures began on the right margin of the page, with the name of Convention President George Washington. When the space to the right of Washington's signature was filled, the remaining signatures continued in a second column to the left.
The signers of the Constitution represented a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with experience in local, colonial, and state governments. They also had military experience, with at least 29 having served in the Continental forces during the Revolution, most of them in positions of command.
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The signing occurred on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This event occurred during the Constitutional Convention, which lasted four months and involved 74 delegates chosen to represent 12 states (Rhode Island did not send any delegates). Of these, 55 attended, and 39 signed the document.
The signing of the Constitution was the culmination of a lengthy process that began with the creation of a Committee of Detail on July 24, 1787, tasked with drafting a constitution that reflected the resolutions passed by the convention. The committee's final report, the constitution's first draft, included 23 articles and a preamble. However, some portions were rephrased during the process.
The final draft of the Constitution, presented on September 12, 1787, just five days before the signing, underwent further changes. It included seven articles, a preamble, and a closing endorsement, with Gouverneur Morris as the primary author. Despite some delegates' disappointment with the final document, a compromise was reached, and the signing took place during the convention's final session.
The signing of the Constitution was a significant event in American history, as it laid the framework for the nation's federal government and outlined the functions of its three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The document was endorsed by the delegates as individual witnesses of the unanimous consent of the states present, with their names subscribed as witnesses to the convention's proceedings.
The signers of the Constitution represented a diverse group, with individuals like Jonathan Dayton, the youngest signer at 26, and Benjamin Franklin, the oldest at 81. Virtually all of them had participated in the American Revolution, and at least 29 had served in the Continental forces. The signing took place in Independence Hall's Assembly Room, where both the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence were debated and signed, using the Syng inkstand for both occasions.
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Frequently asked questions
James Madison was the last signer of the US Constitution to die, in June 1836.
Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, was the youngest signer of the US Constitution, while Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, was the oldest.
39 delegates signed the US Constitution.
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787.
