Isabella Carter
The oldest person to sign the United States Constitution was Benjamin Franklin, who was 81 years old at the time. Franklin was one of 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention who endorsed the Constitution on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Franklin, who was so infirm that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair, summed up the sentiments of those who signed, 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.
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Benjamin Franklin was the oldest person to sign the Constitution
Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, was the oldest person to sign the United States Constitution. The signing of the Constitution occurred on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Of the 55 delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention, only 39 actually signed the Constitution. Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, was the youngest signer.
Franklin was a printer and inventor in his youth and later engaged in politics and diplomacy on behalf of the colony of Pennsylvania. During the Revolutionary War, he served as commissioner to France, where he helped secure the alliance that led to the American victory. He also 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.
Despite his poor health, Franklin was able to sign the Constitution with assistance. As he did so, tears streamed down his face. 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 was also the first signer to die, passing away in April 1790. The last signer to die was James Madison, in June 1836.
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Franklin was 81 years old at the time of signing
Benjamin Franklin, at 81 years old, was the oldest person to sign the United States Constitution. The signing took place on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Of the 55 delegates who attended the convention, only 39 actually signed the Constitution, with Franklin being the oldest and Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, the youngest.
Franklin's advanced age and poor health meant that he had to be carried to the sessions in a sedan chair. When he signed the Constitution, tears streamed down his face. He summed up the sentiments of those who signed, saying:
> "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 was one of America's foremost Founding Fathers. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1706, he was primarily self-taught and became a printer and inventor in his youth. As an adult, 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 an American victory. He also negotiated the Treaty of Paris in 1783, which ended the war. Franklin's presence and prestige at the Constitutional Convention helped forge compromises that shaped the final document.
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He was the first signer to pass away, in April 1790
Benjamin Franklin, the oldest person to sign the US Constitution, was also the first signer to pass away. He died in April 1790, just under three years after signing the document.
Franklin was 81 years old when he signed the Constitution on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was one of 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention who endorsed the Constitution. Franklin was so infirm that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair.
Despite his poor health, Franklin's presence and prestige at the convention were instrumental in forging compromises that shaped the final document. He summed up the sentiments of those who signed the Constitution, saying:
> "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 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, and I believe farther that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in despotism, like any other form, by being administered by bad men."
Franklin was a Founding Father and one of America's foremost statesmen. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1706 to a soap and candle maker. He was primarily self-taught and became a printer and inventor in his youth. As he grew older, he engaged in politics and diplomacy on behalf of the colony of Pennsylvania. During the Revolutionary War, he served as commissioner to France, where he helped secure the alliance that ensured an American victory. He also negotiated the Treaty of Paris in 1783, which ended the war. In his final years, Franklin dedicated himself to the abolition movement, a cause he supported throughout his life.
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He was so infirm that he had to be carried to the sessions in a sedan chair
The oldest person to sign the United States Constitution was Benjamin Franklin, who was 81 years old at the time. Franklin was one of America's foremost Founding Fathers. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1706 to a soap and candle maker. He was primarily self-taught and became a printer and inventor in his youth. In adulthood, he entered the world of politics and diplomacy, representing the colony of Pennsylvania.
Franklin distinguished himself at the Second Continental Congress and played a role in drafting 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 led to American victory. He also negotiated the Treaty of Paris in 1783, which ended the war. Franklin's presence and prestige at the Constitutional Convention were instrumental in forging compromises that shaped the final document.
Franklin's advanced age and poor health are evident in the fact that he had to be carried to the sessions in a sedan chair. His infirmity was so great that he needed assistance when signing the Constitution, and tears streamed down his face as he did so. Despite his frailty, Franklin's commitment to the cause of abolition remained unwavering, and he dedicated his final years to serving this movement.
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Franklin was one of America's foremost Founding Fathers
Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, was the oldest person to sign the United States Constitution. He was one of America's foremost Founding Fathers. Born in 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts, Franklin was primarily self-taught 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, Franklin served as commissioner to France, where he played a crucial role in securing the French-American alliance, which was instrumental in the American victory. Along with John Jay and John Adams, he also negotiated the Treaty of Paris in 1783, which brought an end to the war. At the Constitutional Convention, despite his advanced age and infirmity, Franklin's presence and prestige were pivotal in forging compromises that shaped the final document.
Franklin's wisdom and experience were invaluable during the Constitutional Convention. As the oldest participant, he brought a unique perspective and helped bridge differences among the delegates. He embraced the Constitution despite his reservations about certain parts of it, recognising the importance of unity and compromise. Franklin understood that the Constitution was a living document that could be improved upon over time. His signature on the Constitution, though requiring assistance due to his poor health, carries significant weight and symbolism.
Beyond his contributions to the Constitution, Franklin's impact on America's founding extended to his work in the abolition movement, a cause he dedicated his final years to. His commitment to ending slavery demonstrated his forward-thinking and humanitarian spirit. Franklin's life and legacy embody the ideals of the American Revolution, making him one of the most revered figures in the nation's history. His role in shaping the Constitution, along with his diplomatic achievements and dedication to liberty, firmly establish him as one of America's foremost Founding Fathers.
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Frequently asked questions
Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, was the oldest person to sign the US Constitution.
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787.
Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston, Massachusetts.
Benjamin Franklin was a printer and inventor in his youth. In adulthood, he engaged in politics and diplomacy on behalf of the colony of Pennsylvania.
