Jonah Patel
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states, endorsed the Constitution. The oldest signer was Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, and the youngest was Jonathan Dayton, aged 26. Franklin was also the first signer to pass away, in April 1790, while James Madison was the last, dying in June 1836. Pennsylvania had the largest representation, with nine delegates signing the Declaration, eight signing the Constitution, and four signing both. John Hancock's large, flamboyant signature became iconic, and his name emerged as an informal synonym for signature in the United States.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | September 17, 1787 |
| Location | Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Number of delegates chosen | 74 |
| Number of delegates attended | 55 |
| Number of delegates signed | 39 |
| Number of delegates who refused to sign | 3 |
| Number of states represented | 12 |
| State with the largest representation | Pennsylvania |
| Number of sheets of parchment used | 4 |
| Youngest signer | Jonathan Dayton, 26 |
| Oldest signer | Benjamin Franklin, 81 |
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What You'll Learn
The Signing of the United States Constitution
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The signing of this document laid the foundation for a more perfect union and marked the culmination of four months of fierce debate and deliberations by the Founding Fathers, led by George Washington.
Seventy-four individuals were chosen to attend the Constitutional Convention, but only 55 delegates participated, representing 12 of the 13 states. Rhode Island refused to send delegates. Of the attendees, 13 dropped out, either for personal reasons or in protest of the decisions made during the convention. Three individuals who remained until the end refused to sign the final draft.
The final draft of the Constitution, presented to the convention on September 12, was a result of the work of a Committee of Style and Arrangement, which included Alexander Hamilton from New York, William Samuel Johnson from Connecticut, Rufus King from Massachusetts, James Madison from Virginia, and Gouverneur Morris from Pennsylvania. The committee distilled the 23 approved articles into a final draft constitution containing seven articles, a preamble, and a closing endorsement, of which Morris was the primary author.
On the final day of the convention, Benjamin Franklin, at 81 years old, delivered an address endorsing the Constitution, despite its imperfections. Franklin's speech, read by James Wilson, stated:
> "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."
Following Franklin's speech, the delegates agreed to sign the Constitution as individual witnesses of the unanimous consent of the states present. Thirty-nine delegates, including John Dickinson by proxy, signed the document, with their names grouped by state and arranged geographically from north to south. The convention's secretary, William Jackson, also signed the document to authenticate some corrections.
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The youngest and oldest signers
The Signing of the United States Constitution occurred on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states, endorsed the Constitution. The delegates ranged in age from 26 to 81.
Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, was the youngest person to sign the Constitution. Dayton was one of the delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention sessions.
Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, was the oldest person to sign the Constitution. Franklin was so infirm that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair. He was the first signer to die, in April 1790.
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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 convention, during which 55 delegates from 12 states (all except Rhode Island) gathered to discuss and deliberate on the nation's new governing document.
On the final day of the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin, at 81 years old, delivered an address endorsing the Constitution. Franklin, who was the oldest signer, summed up the sentiments of those who supported the document, acknowledging its imperfections but accepting it as the best option. The delegates agreed to Franklin's proposal that the Constitution be endorsed by the delegates as individual witnesses of the unanimous consent of the states present.
The final draft of the Constitution, presented to the convention on September 12, contained seven articles, a preamble, and a closing endorsement. The document was engrossed by Jacob Shallus and consisted of four sheets of parchment, with the signatures on the fourth sheet. The signing of the Constitution was a significant event in American history, establishing the framework for the nation's federal government and the functioning of its three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
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The number of delegates
The 39 signatures on the United States Constitution were gathered from delegates representing 12 states, with Rhode Island being the only state that did not send any delegates to the convention. Of the 74 delegates chosen, 55 attended, and 13 of them dropped out, either due to personal reasons or in protest of decisions made during the convention. Three individuals who remained until the end refused to sign the final draft, bringing the total number of signatures to 38. However, one delegate signed on behalf of another who was absent, thus resulting in 39 total signatures.
The signatories of the Constitution included individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Virtually all of them had participated in the American Revolution, with seven having signed the Declaration of Independence and thirty having served in active military duty. They represented a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with experience in local, colonial, or state government. The youngest signer was Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, while Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, was the oldest.
The signing of the United States Constitution was a significant event, marking the creation of a new American government. The delegates made crucial decisions and compromises on issues such as how to elect a president, how to ensure fair representation in Congress, and how to address slavery. The final document, engrossed by Jacob Shallus, was the result of these discussions and negotiations.
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The states represented
The United States Constitution was signed by 39 delegates, representing 12 states. Rhode Island did not send any delegates to the Constitutional Convention, which was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania had the largest representation, with nine delegates signing the Declaration, eight signing the Constitution, and four signing both. The Pennsylvania delegation included Benjamin Franklin, who, at 81, was the oldest signer of the Constitution.
Virginia sent the second-largest delegation, with seven members, but only three signed the Constitution. The Virginia delegates included James Madison, who represented the state at the Continental Congress during the 1780s and drafted the Virginia Plan, also known as the "Large-State Plan." This plan served as the foundation for most of the Convention's discussions.
The other ten states with representatives at the Constitutional Convention were Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland.
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Frequently asked questions
It is believed that Alexander Hamilton, who added the names of the states, signed in the largest handwriting.
James Madison is known as the writer of the US Constitution.
Jacob Shallus, Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, engrossed the US Constitution.
Jacob Shallus completed the engrossment of the US Constitution in a single day.
Jacob Shallus was paid $30 (equivalent to US$749 in 2024 or $900 when accounting for inflation) for his work engrossing the US Constitution.
![Review of a late pamphlet, under the signature of 'Brutus.': By Hamilton [pseud.]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91hm811nZqL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
