Omar Bennett
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. George Washington, as president of the Convention, was the first to sign the document, followed by delegates from the 12 states (all except Rhode Island, which did not send any delegates) in progression from north to south. Washington's signature was particularly important as he was the most famous delegate and a revolutionary war general who later became the first president of the United States.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | George Washington |
| Role | President of the Convention |
| Profession | Virginia planter, Commander in Chief of the Continental Army |
| Date of Birth | 1732 |
| Date of Death | 1799 |
| Signature Position | First |
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What You'll Learn
George Washington was the first to sign the Constitution
George Washington, the first American president, was the first person to sign the United States Constitution. He was also the president of the Constitutional Convention, which took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1787.
Washington was a Virginia planter of moderate means and is known as the "Father of the Country" and "The Indispensable Man" for his role in the formation of the United States. He was a revolutionary war general who reluctantly attended the convention as he had intended to retire to private life. However, he was persuaded that it was important to attend.
The signing of the Constitution occurred on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Thirty-nine delegates signed the document, representing 12 states (all except Rhode Island, which declined to send delegates). The signatures were grouped by states in progression from north to south.
The United States Constitution was created during the four-month-long convention, and the signing was scheduled for the Monday following the approval of the draft on September 15, 1787. Jacob Shallus, the assistant clerk for the Pennsylvania General Assembly, engrossed (copied in a fine, clear hand) the document over the course of about 40 hours. He was paid $30 for his efforts.
George Washington was one of two presidents who signed the Constitution, along with James Madison.
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Benjamin Franklin was the oldest signer at 81
Benjamin Franklin, born in 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts, was the oldest signer of the US Constitution at 81. He was one of America's foremost Founding Fathers and is known for his involvement in politics, diplomacy, and his work as a printer and inventor.
Franklin was the only person who could have been a contender for the position of convention presiding officer against George Washington. However, he was unable to perform his duty due to poor health and inclement weather. Instead, he nominated Washington for the position, who was unanimously elected.
Franklin was the senior statesman at the convention, with his age being three times that of the youngest delegate, Jonathan Dayton of New Jersey, who was 26. Franklin was twice the average age of all the delegates, which was 41.
Franklin had a long career in politics, beginning with his appointment as clerk of the Pennsylvania Assembly in 1736. He served as an emissary and ambassador for many years and was a commissioner to France during the Revolutionary War, helping to secure the alliance that led to American victory. He also negotiated the Treaty of Paris in 1783, which ended the war.
Franklin's final years were dedicated to the abolition movement, a cause he supported throughout his life. He died at the age of 84.
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Jonathan Dayton was the youngest signer at 26
Jonathan Dayton, born on October 16, 1760, in Elizabethtown, New Jersey, was the youngest person to sign the United States Constitution at 26 years old. He was an American Founding Father and politician from New Jersey. Dayton had just started attending Princeton when the American Revolutionary War broke out, and he left school to join the fight. He served in the New Jersey Regiment of his colony's militia under his father, Elias Dayton, and was soon promoted to Lieutenant. He also served as a paymaster and fought in the battles of Brandywine Creek and Germantown.
After the war, Dayton studied law and opened a practice, dividing his time between land speculation, law, and politics. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention, where he was the youngest member. In 1786-1787, he was a member of the New Jersey General Assembly, and in 1789, he served in the New Jersey Legislative Council (now the New Jersey Senate). Dayton was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1789 or 1791, and he served as Speaker of the House for four years. He supported the fiscal policies of Alexander Hamilton and helped suppress the Whiskey Rebellion.
Dayton's political career took a downturn after he loaned money to his friend, Vice President Aaron Burr, for an adventure to Louisiana. Burr may have planned to invade Spanish-controlled Mexico and establish a new nation, but his plan failed, and he was tried for treason. Dayton was also accused of treason in connection with this conspiracy but was exonerated by a grand jury. However, his national political career never recovered, and he only held public office one more time, serving a term in the New Jersey legislature from 1814 to 1815.
Jonathan Dayton died on October 9, 1824, in his hometown of Elizabethtown, New Jersey. He was interred in an unmarked grave under the St. John's Episcopal Church in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The city of Dayton, Ohio, was named after him, and several other places, including a high school and a neighbourhood, bear his name.
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39 delegates signed the Constitution
On September 17, 1787, 39 delegates signed the United States Constitution at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This signing occurred after a four-month-long convention, during which 55 delegates participated, though 13 dropped out. Three individuals remained engaged in the work of the convention until its completion but then refused to sign the final draft.
The 39 delegates who signed the Constitution represented 12 states—all but Rhode Island, which declined to send delegates. The signing of the Constitution was preceded by an endorsement, which included a brief declaration that the delegates' work had been successfully completed and that those signing the document subscribed to its contents. The endorsement also included a statement pronouncing the document's adoption by the states present and a formulaic dating of its adoption.
The 39 signatures were inscribed upon the proposed constitution, with George Washington, the president of the Convention, signing first. The remaining delegates then signed the document, grouped by states in progression from north to south. Washington, however, signed near the right margin of the page, and when the delegates ran out of space, they began a second column of signatures to the left.
Among the notable signatories of the Constitution were George Washington, a Virginia planter known as the "Father of the Country" and the "Indispensable Man" for his role in the formation of the United States; Benjamin Franklin, one of America's foremost Founding Fathers; and Roger Sherman, the only person to sign all four "founding documents" of the Revolutionary Era: the Articles of Non-Importation, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution.
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The signing took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The signing of the United States Constitution took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall. The Constitutional Convention was held in a closed meeting room in Pennsylvania's State House, now known as Independence Hall. The signing ceremony concluded four months of intense and lengthy debates, presided over by George Washington, about the future of the United States and the form of government that would replace the weak central government established by the Articles of Confederation.
Twelve of the thirteen states were represented at the convention, with Rhode Island refusing to send delegates. Of the 74 delegates chosen, 55 attended, and 39 signed the document. The signing was preceded by Benjamin Franklin's final speech, in which he moved for the delegates to sign the Constitution. The speech was read by James Wilson, as Franklin was in poor health at the age of 81. The oldest signer, Franklin, was also the first signer to pass away, in April 1790. Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, was the youngest signer.
The signing ceremony was also attended by the convention's secretary, William Jackson, who added a note to verify four amendments made by hand to the final document and signed to authenticate its validity. Jacob Shallus, the assistant clerk for the Pennsylvania General Assembly, engrossed (transcribed) the document in a clear hand over 40 hours and was paid $30 for his efforts.
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Frequently asked questions
George Washington was the first person to sign the US Constitution. He was the president of the convention and the first president of the United States.
Jacob Shallus, the assistant clerk for the Pennsylvania General Assembly, transcribed the US Constitution. He was paid $30 for his work.
Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, was the youngest person to sign the US Constitution. Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, was the oldest.
