Simone Lawson
The United States Constitution is a significant document that outlines the framework for the nation's federal government and its three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. Of the 74 delegates chosen to attend the Constitutional Convention, 55 attended, and only 39 signed the Constitution. The signers of this historic document hailed from diverse backgrounds, with varying professions and places of birth. The youngest signer was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton, while the oldest was 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin. Now, let's delve into the birthplaces of these influential individuals who shaped the course of American history.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Signers | 39 |
| Youngest Signer | Jonathan Dayton, aged 26 |
| Oldest Signer | Benjamin Franklin, aged 81 |
| Places of Birth | Ireland, England, Scotland, West Indies, Connecticut, North Carolina, Maine, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Georgia, New Haven, New York |
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What You'll Learn
Four signers were born in Ireland
While there were 55 delegates at the Constitutional Convention, only 39 individuals signed the US Constitution. Of these 39 signatories, four were born in Ireland.
The first of these four men was William Paterson, who immigrated to America as a child. He studied law under Richard Stockton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. During the American Revolution, Paterson served in various legal positions, including Attorney General for New Jersey.
The second Irish-born signer was James McHenry, who trained as a doctor and served as a Major and military surgeon during the American Revolution. During the war, he served directly under George Washington and Marquis de Lafayette. After the war, he was elected to the Maryland state legislature and later appointed as a delegate to the Convention.
The third Irish-born signer was Matthew Thornton, who went to America as a four-year-old child. He practiced medicine and became active in pre-revolutionary agitation before being elected to become a member of the Continental Congress in 1776. He was a Colonel of the New Hampshire Militia from 1775 to 1783.
The fourth and final Irish-born signer of the US Constitution was James Smith, who was forced to emigrate to the American colonies as a boy due to abuse by landlords. He became a leading lawyer of his day and wrote legal opinions denying the constitutional power of Great Britain over the American colonies. He also urged an end to the import of British goods, as Jonathan Swift would do in Ireland. Smith raised a militia group in York, Pennsylvania, and joined the American Continental Congress in July 1775. He served as a Colonel of the Pennsylvania Militia from 1775 to 1776 and was a member of the Continental Congress from 1776 to 1778.
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One signer was born in the West Indies
The United States Constitution was signed by 39 individuals, out of 55 who attended the Constitutional Convention. Of these 39, all but seven were native to the thirteen colonies. The non-native signers were Pierce Butler, Thomas Fitzsimons, James McHenry, William Paterson, Robert Morris, James Wilson, and Alexander Hamilton.
Alexander Hamilton, born in 1755, was the only signer of the Constitution born outside of the American continent. Hamilton was born in the British West Indies, on the island of Nevis. He was the illegitimate son of a Scottish merchant. Orphaned in his teenage years, Hamilton was sent to New York to pursue an education. He attended King's College, later Columbia University, on a scholarship. Before the Revolutionary War, he wrote pro-Whig pamphlets. During the war, he served as General Washington's aide-de-camp and secretary, and later held a command under the Marquis de Lafayette during the decisive Battle of Yorktown. After the war, he held various state political positions and authored 51 of the 85 Federalist Papers. Hamilton's nationalist views were considered extreme but influential.
The other non-native signers were born in various parts of Europe. Robert Morris, for example, was born in England, while James Wilson was born in Scotland. Thomas Fitzsimons and several others were born in Ireland.
The signers of the Constitution represented a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences. They included lawyers, physicians, merchants, and plantation owners. Many had served in the Continental forces during the Revolutionary War, and some, like Hamilton, played pivotal roles in shaping the nation's early history.
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One signer was born in England
The United States Constitution was signed by 39 individuals, most of whom were native to the thirteen colonies. However, one signer, Robert Morris, was born in England.
Robert Morris' place of birth is notable as it sets him apart from the majority of his fellow signers. While the specific details of Robert Morris' early life and career before the Constitutional Convention are not readily available, his signature on the Constitution is significant.
The signing of the United States Constitution took place on September 17, 1787, marking a pivotal moment in the nation's history. The document outlined the framework for the federal government and delineated the functions of its three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
The process leading up to the signing of the Constitution involved several key steps. The Constitutional Convention, comprising delegates from twelve of the thirteen states (with Rhode Island refusing to send representatives), played a crucial role. The delegates debated and refined the draft constitution, aiming for unanimous support from the delegations.
Among the 74 chosen delegates, 55 attended, and 39 ultimately signed the document. The signers' names were grouped by state, with the listing arranged geographically from north to south. The youngest signer was Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, while Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, was the oldest.
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One signer was born in Scotland
The US Constitution was signed by 39 delegates, with 70 individuals originally appointed by the original states (except Rhode Island) to attend the Constitutional Convention. Of the 39 signatories, all but seven were native to the thirteen colonies. One of the seven, James Wilson, was born in Scotland.
The signatories of the US Constitution included a range of physicians, lawyers, merchants, and plantation owners. Several of the men who signed the Constitution had also fought in the Revolution, with at least 29 having served in the Continental forces, most of them in positions of command.
James Wilson was born in Scotland, though the exact location is unknown. He was one of four men from Massachusetts who were sent as delegates to the Constitutional Convention. Wilson was also responsible for reading Benjamin Franklin's address strongly endorsing the Constitution, despite any perceived imperfections. Franklin's address was designed to gain the support of critics and create a sense of common accord.
The other six signatories who were not born in the colonies were Pierce Butler, Thomas Fitzsimons, James McHenry, William Paterson, Robert Morris, and Alexander Hamilton.
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The majority were born in the 13 colonies
The United States Constitution was signed by 39 individuals, most of whom were born in the 13 colonies. The 13 colonies that became the first states in the Union were: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island.
The signers of the Constitution were appointed by these original states, except Rhode Island, which refused to send delegates. The majority of the signers were native to these states. For example, William Few, a signer, was born in Maryland, and Abraham Baldwin, another signer, was a native of Connecticut.
Some signers were born outside of the 13 colonies, in places like Ireland, England, Scotland, and the West Indies. Pierce Butler, Thomas Fitzsimons, James McHenry, and William Paterson were born in Ireland, Robert Morris in England, James Wilson in Scotland, and Alexander Hamilton in the West Indies.
The signers of the Constitution were a diverse group, including physicians, lawyers, merchants, and plantation owners. They represented different economic, political, and social backgrounds and had varied life experiences, which influenced the shaping of the Constitution.
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Frequently asked questions
William Paterson was born in Ireland and immigrated to America as a child.
James McHenry was born in Ireland.
Alexander Hamilton was born on Nevis, in the British West Indies.
Rufus King was born in present-day Scarborough, Maine.
