Malcolm Rivera
The US Constitution was signed by 39 of the 42 men present at the Federal Convention of 1787. George Washington was the first to sign, followed by each state delegation descending from north to south. The youngest signer was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton, while the oldest was 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First person to sign the US Constitution | George Washington |
| Number of people who signed the US Constitution | 39 out of 42 men present |
| Number of states represented at the Constitutional Convention | 12 out of 13 |
| Number of delegates chosen | 74 |
| Number of delegates who attended | 55 |
| Youngest signer | Jonathan Dayton, age 26 |
| Oldest signer | Benjamin Franklin, age 81 |
| People who refused to sign | George Mason, Elbridge Gerry, Edmund Randolph |
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What You'll Learn
George Washington was the first to sign the US Constitution
Washington presided over the Federal Convention of 1787 as delegates signed the US Constitution at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. He was one of 39 men to sign the Constitution, out of 42 men present. Of the 74 delegates chosen, 55 attended the signing ceremony, and three refused to sign.
Several attendees left before the signing ceremony, including Elbridge Gerry, George Mason, and Edmund Randolph, who refused to sign because the Constitution lacked a bill of rights. They preferred the decentralised nature of the Articles of Confederation as a check on the power of the central government.
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39 of the 42 men present signed the Constitution
George Washington was the first of 39 of the 42 men present to sign the US Constitution. The remaining three men refused to sign because the Constitution lacked a bill of rights. These men were Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts, George Mason of Virginia, and Edmund Randolph.
The signing took place at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, with Washington presiding over the Federal Convention of 1787. Twelve of the thirteen states were represented at the convention, with Rhode Island refusing to send delegates. Of the 74 delegates who were chosen, 55 attended and 39 signed. Several attendees left before the signing ceremony.
The youngest signer was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton, and the oldest was 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin. Franklin delivered an address on the final day of the convention, strongly endorsing the Constitution despite any perceived imperfections. He said: "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."
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12 of the 13 states were represented at the Constitutional Convention
In total, 12 of the 13 states were represented at the Constitutional Convention, with Rhode Island refusing to send delegates. Of the 74 delegates who were chosen, 55 attended and 39 signed. George Washington was the first to sign, followed by each state delegation descending from north to south.
The Federal Convention of 1787 was presided over by George Washington of Virginia, who was the first to sign the US Constitution at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. A number of the delegates, like Washington, either served in the Continental Congress or fought the British during the American Revolution. Not all of the delegates agreed with the final product. Some expressed reservations but signed the Constitution, anticipating vigorous debates within their states. Three delegates, Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts, George Mason of Virginia, and Edmund Randolph, did not sign it at all. Critics who shared the views of these delegates preferred the decentralised nature of the Articles of Confederation as a check on the power of the central government.
On July 24, 1787, convention delegates selected a Committee of Detail to prepare a draft constitution reflective of the resolutions passed by the convention up to that point. The committee's final report, the constitution's first draft, included 23 articles, plus a preamble. The youngest signer was Jonathan Dayton, age 26, while Benjamin Franklin, age 81, was the oldest.
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3 men refused to sign the Constitution
George Washington was the first to sign the US Constitution, followed by each state delegation descending from north to south. Of the 42 men present, 39 signed the Constitution.
Three men refused to sign the Constitution: Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts, George Mason of Virginia, and Edmund Randolph of Virginia. They did not agree with the final product, preferring the decentralised nature of the Articles of Confederation as a check on the power of the central government. They believed the Constitution lacked a bill of rights. Randolph initially refused to sign, but ultimately changed his mind and supported the Constitution.
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Benjamin Franklin was the oldest signer, at 81
George Washington was the first to sign the US Constitution, followed by each state delegation from north to south. Benjamin Franklin, at 81, was the oldest signer. He was one of 39 men to sign the Constitution, out of 42 men present.
Franklin was a strong supporter of the Constitution, despite its perceived imperfections. He delivered an address strongly endorsing the document, and proposed that it be endorsed by the delegates as individual witnesses of the unanimous consent of the states present. He said: "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."
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Frequently asked questions
George Washington.
39 of the 42 men present signed the Constitution.
Jonathan Dayton, aged 26.
Benjamin Franklin, aged 81.
