The Oldest Signer Of The Constitution

who was the oldes to sighn the constitution

The oldest person to sign the US Constitution was Benjamin Franklin, aged 81. Franklin was one of 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states, who endorsed the Constitution on September 17, 1787. The average age of the delegates was 42, and the youngest to sign was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton. Franklin, who was the first signer to pass away, summed up the sentiments of those who did sign, stating: There are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them.

Characteristics Values
Name Benjamin Franklin
Age 81
Born 1706, Boston, Massachusetts
Profession Printer, Inventor, Politician, Diplomat
Death April 1790

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Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, was the oldest person to sign the US Constitution

Benjamin Franklin, at 81 years old, was the oldest person to sign the US Constitution. Born in 1706, he was one of America's foremost Founding Fathers. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to a soap and candle maker, and became a printer and inventor in his youth. In adulthood, he entered the world of politics and diplomacy, representing the colony of Pennsylvania. He distinguished himself at the Second Continental Congress and helped draft the Declaration of Independence with Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. During the Revolutionary War, he served as commissioner to France, where he helped secure the alliance that ensured an American victory. Franklin, along with John Jay and John Adams, negotiated the Treaty of Paris in 1783, which ended the war.

Franklin was the oldest participant at the Constitutional Convention, and his presence and prestige were instrumental in forging the compromises that shaped the final document. The average age of the Founding Fathers was 43, with four of the most influential delegates—Alexander Hamilton, Edmund Randolph, Gouvernor Morris, and James Madison—being in their thirties. Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, was the youngest to sign the Constitution.

Franklin summed up the sentiments of those who signed the Constitution, stating:

> "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 accept this Constitution [...] because I expect no better and because I am not sure that it is not the best."

Franklin's final years were dedicated to serving the abolition movement, a cause to which he was committed throughout his life. He was the first signer of the Constitution to pass away, dying in April 1790.

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Franklin was one of 39 delegates to endorse the Constitution

Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, was the oldest person to sign the United States Constitution. He was one of 39 delegates to endorse the Constitution, out of 55 who attended the convention. The Signing of the United States Constitution occurred on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 39 delegates represented 12 states (all but Rhode Island, which declined to send delegates).

Franklin, a respected statesman and delegate representing Pennsylvania, summed up the sentiments of those who did sign, stating:

> "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 agree to this Constitution with all its faults, if they are such; because I think a general Government necessary for us, and there is no form of Government but what may be a blessing to the people if well administered."

Franklin also said:

> "I expect no better and because I am not sure that it is not the best. The opinions I have had of its errors, I sacrifice to the public good. I have never whispered a syllable of them abroad. Within these walls they were born, and here they shall die."

The average age of the founders was 43. Two of the signers were 26 at the time of signing, making them the youngest. Four signers were physicians, 24 were lawyers, and one was a printer. The remaining signers were mostly merchants or plantation owners.

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The Signing of the US Constitution occurred on September 17, 1787

The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This event occurred at the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention, which 39 delegates representing 12 states attended. These delegates endorsed the Constitution, which was created during the four-month-long convention.

The signing of the US Constitution was a significant moment in the country's history, as it established the government of the United States. The document was drafted in secret by the delegates during the summer of 1787. The convention was convened to revise the Articles of Confederation, which had been ratified in 1781. However, it became clear by mid-June that a new frame of government was needed, leading to the creation of the Constitution.

The Founding Fathers, including those who signed the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution, are considered the framers of the United States. They were a group of late-18th-century American revolutionary leaders who played a crucial role in the country's formation. Benjamin Franklin, the oldest signer of the Constitution at 81 years old, summed up the sentiments of those who signed, acknowledging that while there were parts of the Constitution he did not approve of, he accepted it as the best option at the time.

The Constitution faced opposition from some states, particularly those concerned about the centralization of power and the lack of protection for basic political rights. Despite this, the document was ratified by the necessary nine out of 13 states, with the ninth state, New Hampshire, ratifying it on June 21, 1788. The first Congress of the United States adopted 12 amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, on September 25, 1789, and sent them to the states for ratification.

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The average age of the delegates was 42

The Founding Fathers of the United States were a group of late-18th-century American revolutionary leaders who united the Thirteen Colonies, oversaw the War of Independence from Great Britain, established the United States of America, and crafted a framework for the new nation's government. The Founding Fathers include those who wrote and signed the United States Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution of the United States.

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 average age of the delegates was 42, and four of the most influential delegates—Alexander Hamilton, Edmund Randolph, Gouvernor Morris, and James Madison—were in their thirties. Over half of the delegates graduated from college, with nine from Princeton and six from British universities. Additionally, 8 signed the Declaration of Independence, 25 served in the Continental Congress, 15 helped draft the new State Constitutions between 1776 and 1780, and 40 served in the Confederation Congress between 1783 and 1787.

Benjamin Franklin, born in 1706, was the oldest signer of the Constitution at 81 years old. He was also one of America's foremost Founding Fathers. Primarily self-taught, he became a printer and inventor in his youth. In adulthood, he engaged in politics and diplomacy on behalf of the colony of Pennsylvania. During the Revolutionary War, he served as commissioner to France, helping to secure the alliance that led to American victory. With John Jay and John Adams, he negotiated the Treaty of Paris in 1783, which ended the war. Franklin's presence and prestige at the Constitutional Convention forged compromises that shaped the formation of the document.

Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, was the youngest to sign the Constitution. Two other signers were also 26 years old: Edward Rutledge and Thomas Lynch Jr.

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The US Constitution is the oldest and shortest written Constitution of any major government

The US Constitution is the oldest written and codified national constitution still in force in the world. It was signed on September 17, 1787, and became operational in 1789. Since then, it has been amended 27 times. The US Constitution is also considered the shortest written constitution of any major government. The original document was handwritten on five pages of parchment by Jacob Shallus.

The US Constitution was signed by 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states. The average age of the founders was 43, with Benjamin Franklin being the oldest person to sign the document at 81 years old. Franklin was also the first signer to pass away, in April 1790. The youngest signer was Jonathan Dayton, aged 26.

The Founding Fathers of the United States were a group of late-18th-century American revolutionary leaders who united the Thirteen Colonies, oversaw the War of Independence from Great Britain, and established the United States of America. They crafted a framework of government for the new nation, which included the US Constitution. The Founding Fathers include those who wrote and signed the United States Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution of the United States.

The US Constitution has had a significant influence on the constitutions of other nations and has helped secure the rights of the American people for over two centuries. It embodies the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. The first ten amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, offer specific protections of individual liberty and justice and place restrictions on the powers of the government within the US states.

Frequently asked questions

Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, was the oldest person to sign the US Constitution.

Benjamin Franklin signed the US Constitution on September 17, 1787.

Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, was the youngest person to sign the US Constitution.

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