Malcolm Rivera
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 individuals out of the 55 delegates who attended the sessions of the Constitutional Convention. The youngest delegate was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton, and the oldest was 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin, who had to be carried to the sessions in a sedan chair due to his infirmity. The four most famous signers of the Constitution are considered to be the Founding Fathers, who played a significant role in the creation and signing of this important document.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of signers | 39 out of 55 delegates |
| Youngest signer | Jonathan Dayton, aged 26 |
| Oldest signer | Benjamin Franklin, aged 81 |
| First signer to die | Benjamin Franklin |
| Last signer to die | James Madison |
| State with the second-largest delegation | Virginia |
| Number of Virginia delegates who signed | 3 |
| Number of delegates born outside the thirteen colonies | 7 |
| States whose delegates believed a new constitution was necessary | South Carolina |
| States that did not send a delegation | Rhode Island |
| States that sent delegates | 12 |
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What You'll Learn
Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, was the oldest signer
Benjamin Franklin, at 81 years old, was the oldest person to sign the US Constitution. Franklin was born on January 17, 1706, and was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was a polymath: a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher, and political philosopher. Franklin was also an amateur musician. Franklin was so infirm that he had to be carried to the Constitutional Convention sessions in a sedan chair.
Franklin was the eighth child of Josiah Franklin, a tallow chandler, soaper, and candlemaker, and his second wife, Abiah Folger. Benjamin was Josiah's fifteenth child overall and his tenth and final son. Franklin's father and all four of his grandparents were born in England.
Josiah Franklin married his first wife, Anne Child, in about 1677 in Ecton, England, and emigrated with her to Boston in 1683. They had seven children together. After Anne's death, Josiah married Abiah Folger in 1689 in the Old South Meeting House and had ten more children.
Benjamin Franklin was one of the 55 delegates appointed by the original states to the Constitutional Convention. Of these 55 delegates, only 39 actually signed the Constitution. The youngest signer of the Constitution was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton.
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Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, was the youngest signer
In 1789, Dayton was elected to the United States House of Representatives but did not take his seat until he was re-elected in 1791. He served as Speaker of the House for two terms and led the debates of Congress as the leader of the majority party. Dayton was a strong supporter of Alexander Hamilton's fiscal policies and helped organize the suppression of the Whiskey Rebellion. He also supported the Louisiana Purchase and opposed the repeal of the Judiciary Act of 1801. In addition to his political career, Dayton was a land speculator and owned 250,000 acres in the Great Miami River basin.
Despite his successful career, Dayton's reputation was tarnished by his association with Vice President Aaron Burr. He loaned money to Burr for an adventure to Louisiana, which may have been a plot to invade Spanish-controlled Mexico and establish a new nation. When Burr was tried for treason, Dayton was also arrested and accused of treason. Although he was exonerated by a grand jury, his national political career never recovered. Dayton died in 1824 in his hometown of Elizabeth, New Jersey, and was interred in an unmarked grave. Today, he is remembered as a Founding Father and honoured through various places named after him, including the city of Dayton, Ohio, and several streets and neighbourhoods in New Jersey.
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James Madison, a strong supporter, was the last signer to die
James Madison, born on March 16, 1751, was a prominent figure in the drafting and adoption of the United States Constitution. As a strong supporter of the Constitution, Madison played a pivotal role in shaping the foundation of American government. He was a key delegate to the Constitutional Convention and is widely regarded as the "Father of the Constitution."
Madison was a nationalist who advocated for a strong and well-balanced government. He proposed the Virginia, or large-state, Plan, which provided the fundamental framework and principles of the Constitution. His influence was significant in securing the ratification of the Constitution by the states, particularly in Virginia.
In addition to his role in the Constitutional Convention, Madison collaborated with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay to publish the Federalist Papers. These papers, authored in defence of the Constitution, played a crucial role in promoting its adoption. Madison also sponsored the first ten amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, emphasising freedoms such as religion, speech, and the press.
Madison's dedication to the Constitution extended beyond its establishment. He served as the fourth President of the United States from 1809 to 1817, during which he continued to uphold and protect the principles of the Constitution. Madison's influence on American political thought and his contributions to the Constitution's creation and ratification solidified his legacy as one of the key founders of the nation.
James Madison passed away in 1836 at Montpelier, making him the last signer of the Constitution to die. His death marked the end of an era, as he was the last surviving link to the founding moments of the nation. Madison's enduring influence on the Constitution and American democracy has ensured his place in history as one of the most revered Founding Fathers of the United States.
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The Virginia delegation was influential, with only three signing
The signing of the US Constitution was a significant event in the nation's history, with 39 individuals ultimately signing the document. The Virginia delegation played a particularly influential role in this process, despite only having three members. This was especially notable given that Virginia was the largest state at the time, and its delegates were tasked with representing the interests of their constituents in this critical undertaking.
The three members of the Virginia delegation who signed the Constitution were James Madison, Edmund Randolph, and John Marshall. Madison, a future president of the United States, led those in favour of joining the proposed nation under the Constitution. His efforts were instrumental in ensuring Virginia's approval of the Constitution, which was a crucial step towards its final ratification.
Edmund Randolph, the governor of Virginia, also played a pivotal role. Initially refusing to sign the document, he ultimately chose to support it for the sake of national unity. This shift in position was significant, as it demonstrated a willingness to compromise and prioritise unity over personal objections.
John Marshall, a sitting Chief Justice, was the third member of the Virginia delegation. He is known for his contributions to the debates during the Virginia Conventions, particularly his opposition to the ideas of the Old Republicans, whom he accused of ideological anarchy. Marshall's influence extended beyond the signing of the Constitution, as he also played a key role in shaping the early years of the Supreme Court.
The Virginia Conventions, which began during the American Revolutionary War, were assemblies of delegates elected to establish constitutions and laws for the Commonwealth of Virginia. These conventions spanned four centuries and played a crucial role in shaping the state's governance, voting rights, and representation. The delegates' influence extended beyond Virginia, as they also contributed to the development of the US Constitution and the broader direction of the young nation.
In summary, the Virginia delegation, though small in number, exerted significant influence on the signing of the US Constitution. The leadership and compromise demonstrated by its members, particularly James Madison and Edmund Randolph, helped secure Virginia's approval and set the stage for national unity under the newly established government of the United States.
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Some delegates were disappointed by the compromises in the final document
The US Constitution has been described as a "bundle of compromises", with delegates having to make concessions on several key issues to create a government charter that was acceptable to all 13 states.
One of the most contentious issues was slavery. The Three-Fifths Compromise counted every five enslaved people as three individuals for the purposes of congressional representation, thereby increasing the number of congressional seats in several states, particularly in the South. This was a compromise between large and small states, with the former arguing for representation based on population, and the latter for equal representation by state. While this compromise favoured slave-holding states, another compromise allowed Congress to ban the international slave trade, but only 20 years after the ratification of the Constitution.
Another major compromise was the method for selecting a president. The delegates agreed on the Electoral College as the method, which was comprised of electors roughly proportional to population. Citizens would vote for electors bound to a particular candidate, who would then vote for the president. This was seen as a way to guard against dangerous demagogues and leave the presidential election to the votes of national elites.
Additionally, the delegates compromised on the issue of state versus federal powers. They agreed to allot specific responsibilities to the federal government while delegating all other functions to the states. Many delegates believed the federal government should be able to overrule state laws, but others feared that a strong federal government would oppress their citizens.
Some of the most famous signers of the Constitution include George Washington, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton, who were also delegates at the Constitutional Convention. Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, was the oldest signer and had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair.
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