Eleanor Finch
The United States Declaration of Independence was signed on August 2, 1776, at the Pennsylvania State House, later renamed Independence Hall, in Philadelphia. The 56 delegates to the Second Continental Congress represented the Thirteen Colonies, 12 of which voted to approve the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The signers' names are grouped by state, with the exception of John Hancock, whose large, flamboyant signature became iconic, and who presumably signed first as President of Congress.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of signing | August 2, 1776 |
| Location | Pennsylvania State House, Philadelphia |
| Number of signatories | 56 |
| Position of John Hancock's signature | In the middle |
| John Hancock's signature | Large and flamboyant |
| John Hancock's signature's meaning | "Signature" |
| John Hancock's position | President of Congress |
| Youngest signer | Edward Rutledge (26) |
| Oldest signer | Benjamin Franklin (70) |
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What You'll Learn
The date of signing
However, subsequent research has cast doubt on this assertion. Historian Mellen Chamberlain argued that the famous signed version of the Declaration was created following the July 19 resolution and was not signed by Congress until August 2. This argument is supported by the fact that many of the signers were not present in Congress on July 4, and some delegates may have added their signatures even after August 2.
The consensus seems to be that the Declaration of Independence was primarily signed on August 2, 1776, at the Pennsylvania State House, later renamed Independence Hall, in Philadelphia. On this day, 56 members of the Second Continental Congress, representing the Thirteen Colonies, started signing the Declaration. The signers' names were grouped by state, with the exception of John Hancock, who presumably signed first as President of Congress. Hancock's large, flamboyant signature became iconic, and his name is often used in the United States as an informal synonym for "signature".
It is worth noting that the signers' names were not released publicly until early 1777, when Congress allowed the printing of an official copy with the names attached. On January 18, 1777, printer Mary Katherine Goddard's version, called the Goddard Broadside, was printed in Baltimore and indicated the delegates' desire to have the document put on record. This version included the signatures of 56 delegates, with John Hancock's name printed at the bottom for authentication.
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The first signer
The signing of the United States Declaration of Independence occurred primarily on August 2, 1776, at the Pennsylvania State House, later renamed Independence Hall, in Philadelphia. The 56 delegates to the Second Continental Congress represented the Thirteen Colonies, 12 of the colonies voted to approve the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
The Declaration proclaimed the Thirteen Colonies were now "free and independent States", no longer colonies of the Kingdom of Great Britain and, thus, no longer a part of the British Empire. The signers' names are grouped by state, with the exception of John Hancock, as President of the Continental Congress; the states are arranged geographically from south to north, with Button Gwinnett from Georgia first, and Matthew Thornton from New Hampshire last.
The date that the Declaration was signed has long been the subject of debate. Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams all wrote that it was signed by Congress on the day when it was adopted on July 4, 1776. That assertion is seemingly confirmed by the signed copy of the Declaration, which is dated July 4. Additional support for the July 4 date is provided by the Journals of the Continental Congress, the official public record of the Continental Congress. The proceedings for 1776 were first published in 1777, and the entry for July 4 states that the Declaration was engrossed and signed on that date. In 1884, historian Mellen Chamberlain argued that these entries indicated that the famous signed version of the Declaration had been created following the July 19 resolution, and had not been signed by Congress until August 2. Subsequent research has confirmed that many of the signers had not been present in Congress on July 4, and that some delegates may have added their signatures even after August 2.
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The youngest and oldest signatories
The signing of the United States Declaration of Independence occurred primarily on August 2, 1776, at the Pennsylvania State House, later renamed Independence Hall, in Philadelphia. The 56 delegates to the Second Continental Congress represented the Thirteen Colonies, 12 of which voted to approve the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The New York delegation abstained as they had not yet received instructions from Albany to vote for independence.
The youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence was Edward Rutledge, aged 26. Born on November 23, 1749, he edged out Thomas Lynch Jr. (born August 5, 1749) by just over three months to be the youngest signer. Rutledge was one of two 26-year-olds to sign the Declaration, along with Thomas Lynch Jr.
The oldest signer was Benjamin Franklin, aged 70. Born on January 17, 1706, in Boston, Massachusetts, Franklin was one of eight signatories born in Europe. The other European-born signatories were James Smith, George Taylor, Matthew Thornton (born in Ireland), Robert Morris and Button Gwinnett (born in England), James Wilson and John Witherspoon (born in Scotland), and Francis Lewis (born in Wales).
There is some debate about the date the Declaration was signed. While most sources indicate that it was signed on August 2, 1776, there is evidence to suggest that it may have been signed earlier, on July 4, 1776, the same day it was adopted. Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams wrote that it was signed by Congress on July 4, 1776, and this is supported by the signed copy of the Declaration, which is dated July 4. However, in 1796, signer Thomas McKean disputed this, pointing out that some signers were not present on that date. Legal historian Wilfred Ritz concluded in 1986 that about 34 delegates signed the Declaration on July 4, with the rest signing on or after August 2.
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The significance of John Hancock's signature
John Hancock's signature on the United States Declaration of Independence is one of the most well-known and significant aspects of the historic document. Hancock, who was the President of the Continental Congress, signed his name in a large, flamboyant, and easily recognizable style, which has since become synonymous with the word "signature" in the United States.
The story behind Hancock's signature adds to its significance and allure. According to legend, Hancock signed his name in a bold and conspicuous manner, pointing to it and saying, "There, John Bull can read my name without spectacles, he may double his reward, and I put his at defiance." The idea that Hancock wanted King George III to be able to read his signature without the aid of spectacles became a popular tale, although it is believed to have originated years after the signing. This story transformed Hancock's signature into a symbol of defiance and patriotism in the face of British rule.
Hancock's signature also stands out due to its central placement on the document. As President of the Congress, his signature was located in the middle, with the other delegates' signatures grouped by state and arranged geographically from south to north. This visual distinction further emphasized the importance and prominence of Hancock's signature.
The significance of Hancock's signature extends beyond the document itself. As one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, Hancock played a pivotal role in the American Revolution. His involvement in revolutionary politics and his sentiments for independence from Great Britain were well-known. Hancock's signature, therefore, came to represent not just his own defiance but that of the entire nation during this pivotal moment in history.
Today, John Hancock's signature continues to be a source of fascination and pride for Americans. It serves as a reminder of the country's fight for freedom and the courage of those who dared to defy the British rule. The dramatic tales and legends surrounding the signing of the Declaration of Independence have contributed to the enduring legacy of Hancock and the other signatories, elevating them to figures of immense historical significance.
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The process leading up to the signing
The process leading to the signing of the Declaration of Independence began with the Second Continental Congress, which declared its freedom from Great Britain on July 2, 1776, with a unanimous vote. A committee of five, including Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams, drafted the document. The Congress approved the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, and it was sent to a printer named John Dunlap, who printed about 200 copies.
The official signing of the document, however, is a subject of debate. While some sources, including Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams, claim that it was signed on July 4, 1776, the same day it was adopted, others, including Thomas McKean, dispute this. Historian Mellen Chamberlain and subsequent researchers argue that many of the signers were not present in Congress on July 4, and some even added their signatures after August 2. The majority of sources agree that the signing occurred primarily on August 2, 1776, at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, with 56 members of the Second Continental Congress signing the document. John Hancock, as President of the Congress, is believed to have signed first, and his large, flamboyant signature became iconic. The signers' names were not released publicly until early 1777, when Congress allowed the printing of an official copy with the names attached.
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Frequently asked questions
John Hancock, as President of Congress, presumably signed the Declaration of Independence first. His large, flamboyant signature became iconic, and John Hancock emerged in the United States as an informal synonym for "signature".
The Declaration of Independence was signed on August 2, 1776, at the Pennsylvania State House, later renamed Independence Hall, in Philadelphia. However, there is some debate about the exact date it was signed, as some sources claim it was signed on July 4, 1776.
There were 56 delegates to the Second Continental Congress who represented the Thirteen Colonies, 12 of which voted to approve the Declaration of Independence. The New York delegation abstained as they had not received instructions from Albany to vote for independence.
