Jonah Patel
The original four-page U.S. Constitution is kept on display in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom in the National Archives. The document was signed by 39 delegates on September 17, 1787, and the states they represented. The Americana Collection also houses a complete set of documents that includes the signatures of the 39 signers of the Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of people who attended the Constitutional Convention | 55 |
| Number of people who signed the Constitution | 39 |
| Youngest signer | Jonathan Dayton, aged 26 |
| Oldest signer | Benjamin Franklin, aged 81 |
| State with the most signatures | Pennsylvania |
| First state to ratify the Constitution | Delaware |
| Date of signing | September 17, 1787 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Signatures on letters
The signatures of the original signers of the US Constitution can be found in letters and documents from that time. On September 17, 1787, 39 delegates signed the Constitution, and the states they represented included South Carolina, Maryland, and Delaware. Jonathan Dayton, at 26, was the youngest signer of the Constitution. Dayton's signature can be found in a letter to Commodore Barry, dating to 1799, in which he endorses Midshipman Owen Smith to serve under Commodore Barry.
Another signer of the Constitution was Gunning Bedford, whose signature is featured on an intelligence letter to Colonel Mooney. John Dickinson, who missed the signing of the Constitution due to illness, authorised his friend and fellow delegate George Read to sign on his behalf. Dickinson's signature can be found in a personal letter to Read from 1782.
Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, was the oldest person to sign the Constitution. Franklin, who was president of the Constitutional Convention, played a pivotal role in persuading its members to sign the document. His signature can be found in letters to and from him, as well as in the recollections and anecdotes of his contemporaries.
Other signers of the Constitution included George Washington, John Adams and his family, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison. Many of the delegates who signed the Constitution had fought in the American Revolution, and about three-fourths had served in Congress. The average age of the delegates was 42.
Americans Threatened to Repeal the Constitution: A Historical Perspective
You may want to see also
Signers' biographies
The US Constitution was signed by 39 individuals, with ages ranging from 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton to 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin. Dayton, the youngest signer of the Constitution, went on to have a successful legal practice and active political life. He held a seat in the US House of Representatives and served as Speaker during the Fourth and Fifth Congresses. He also supported Alexander Hamilton's financial plan and the Louisiana Purchase.
George Washington, a Virginia planter, is known as the "Father of the Country" and "The Indispensable Man" for his role in the formation of the United States. He served as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army and presided over the Constitutional Convention.
Benjamin Franklin, the oldest signer, played a pivotal role in colonial and revolutionary America. He was charged by Congress with forging diplomatic alliances during the Revolutionary War and used the funds he raised in France to support the Continental Army. Franklin also played an important role in holding together antagonistic factions during the Constitutional Convention and persuading members to sign the Constitution.
Other notable signers include Robert Morris, who served as the superintendent of finance for the Confederation Congress from 1781 to 1784, and George Clymer of Pennsylvania, a Philadelphia merchant who also signed the Declaration of Independence. Abraham Baldwin of Georgia, a Yale-educated native of Connecticut, was the only signer of the Constitution buried in Washington, DC.
Founding Fathers: Constitution Signatories and Their Legacies
You may want to see also
States they represented
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates from 12 of the 13 original states. Rhode Island refused to send a delegate, so no representative from the state signed the document.
The delegates who signed the Constitution and the states they represented were as follows:
- Charles Pinckney, South Carolina
- Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, Maryland
- Abraham Baldwin, Georgia
- Jonathan Dayton, New Jersey
Other delegates who signed the Constitution included Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and Alexander Hamilton. Many of the delegates had fought in the American Revolution, and about three-fourths had served in Congress. The average age of the delegates was 42, with Jonathan Dayton being the youngest signer at 26 and Benjamin Franklin the oldest at 81.
Understanding Mutual Acceptance in Real Estate Deals
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Signers' occupations
The US Constitution was signed by 39 individuals, who were delegates from 12 states. These delegates had a variety of occupations and came from a range of backgrounds. Many of the signers of the Constitution had fought in the American Revolution, and around three-quarters of them had served in Congress.
One of the most notable signers was Benjamin Franklin, who was the oldest delegate at 81 years old. Franklin was so infirm that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair. During the Revolutionary War, Franklin played a crucial role in forging diplomatic alliances and raising funds in France, which allowed the Continental Army to continue fighting. He also served as the president of the Constitutional Convention, holding together antagonistic factions and persuading members to sign the Constitution.
Other signers included George Washington, a prominent figure who presided over the Constitutional Convention, and Jonathan Dayton, who, at 26 years old, was the youngest signer of the Constitution. David Brearley, a delegate from New Jersey, regularly attended sessions and chaired the Committee on Postponed Matters. Abraham Baldwin, a native of Connecticut, represented Georgia at the Continental Congress after practising law and serving as a chaplain in the American Revolution.
The occupations of the signers also varied. For example, Hugh Williamson studied to become a Presbyterian minister, practised medicine, and examined scientific matters. Richard Dobbs Spaight, Jr. had a military career in the North Carolina militia before transitioning to politics, representing his state at the Constitutional Convention. The signers' diverse backgrounds and experiences contributed to the formation of a new American government.
The Cabinet's Role in the Executive Branch
You may want to see also
Location of signing
The US Constitution was signed in Philadelphia, in the Pennsylvania State House, on September 17, 1787. The Constitutional Convention was presided over by George Washington, and 55 delegates attended the sessions. However, only 39 delegates, along with the convention's secretary, William Jackson, signed the document.
The delegates who signed the Constitution represented the original 13 colonies, except for Rhode Island, which refused to send a delegate. The average age of the delegates was 42, with the youngest signer being 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton, and the oldest being 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin, who had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair due to his infirmity.
The signing of the Constitution was a significant event in American history, as it created a new form of government and replaced the Articles of Confederation. The document was later ratified by special conventions in each of the 13 American states, with Delaware becoming the first state to ratify on December 7, 1787.
The location of the signing, the Pennsylvania State House, is now known as Independence Hall and is located in Philadelphia's Independence National Historical Park. It is a significant landmark in American history and is open to the public as a museum and educational centre.
InfoSec Program: Essential Functions for Complete Security
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The signatures of the original signers of the US Constitution can be found on the document itself, which is stored in the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
39 delegates signed the US Constitution on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The convention's secretary, William Jackson, also signed the document to authenticate it.
The signatures on the US Constitution serve as an authentication of the document's validity. They provide essential documentation of who signed the Constitution, when, and where. The signatures also symbolize the agreement of the signers to the content of the document.
Jonathan Dayton, at the age of 26, was the youngest signer of the US Constitution. Benjamin Franklin, at the age of 81, was the oldest signer.
