Of all of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, Carroll was one of the wealthiest and most formally educated. Oldest living U.S. senator June 1, 1832 Information obtained from: American Council of Learned Societies. American National Biography. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999. Who Was Who in America: Historical Volume 1607-1896. Chicago: The A.N. Marquis Company, 1963. Back to The Signer's Gallery The oldest was Benjamin Franklin, then aged 70. He commented that, "We must hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately." Charles Carroll of Maryland, the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence, survived longer than any other, dying at the advanced age of 95 in 1832. How old were the Founding Fathers when the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776? Some were older, like Thomas Jefferson who was 33, John Hancock who was 39, or Benjamin Franklin who was The oldest person to sign the declaration was Benjamin Franklin at the age of 70. Who Is Benjamin Franklin? Benjamin Franklin was a famous polymath who was involved in the struggle for independence and an advocate of colonial unity. The May 28, 1976 issue of the Library of Congress Information Bulletin includes a five-page article (pp. 314-8) entitled "Signers of the Declaration of Independence: A Selected List of References (Excluding Biographies of Individual Signers)". This article, available in the reading room guide to the collection, includes an alphabetical list of The Declaration of Independence: About the Signers (Continued) Massachusetts John Adams (1735-1826)—John Adams was the first Vice-President of the United States and the second President. He was a member (along with Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston and Roger Sherman) chosen to draft the Declaration of Independence. Signers of the Declaration of Independence, from oldest to youngest, based on their age in 1776 Breakdown by age in 1776: The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Armand-Dumaresq (c. 1873) has been hanging in the White House Cabinet Room since the late 1980s. The Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, with 12 of the 13 colonies voting in favor and New York abstaining. The Maryland resolution arrived in Philadelphia on July 1 just in time for the vote on Richard Henry Lee’s postponed June 7 independence resolution. Carroll was elected to represent Maryland on July 4, and was a late signer of the Declaration of Independence. He signed the Declaration on August 2. He was the only Catholic signer. Signers of the Declaration of Independence, from oldest to youngest, based on their age in 1776 Breakdown by age in 1776: Posted By Lee Wright on June 29, 2024 << Previous post | View first post >> At 70, Franklin was the oldest delegate to the Second Continental Congress and served on the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration of Independence. The oldest was Benjamin Franklin at 70 years old. Only a handful signed both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution; they include: Benjamin Franklin, George Read, Roger Sherman, John Morton (1725-1777) —John Morton was the first signer of the Declaration of Independence to die and was one of nine signers from Pennsylvania. He was elected to the Second Continental Congress from 1774-77, and was the chairman of the committee that reported the Articles of Confederation. Signers of the Declaration of Independence Name State Rep. Date of Birth Birthplace Age at Signing Occupation Number of Marriages Number of Children Date of Death Age at Death Adams, John MA 10/30/1735 Quincy, MA 40 Lawyer 1 5 7/4/1826 90 Adams, Samuel MA 9/27/1722 Boston, MA 53 Merchant 2 2 10/2/1803 81 Signers of the Declaration of Independence Short biographies on each of the 56 Declaration signers. Menu NEXT > John Adams: Delaware: George Read | Lewis Morris - New York: A fierce proponent of American independence, Lewis Morris signed the Declaration of Independence reportedly after stating: "Damn the consequences, give me the pen." The statement is a charged one as Morris, heir to a great fortune that included his father’s Westchester County estate, Morrisania, had more to lose than Lists containing the names of some of the U.S. Founding Fathers and their respective ages on July 4, 1776, the date the Declaration of Independence was adopted, have circulated online since at The fifty-six men who signed the Declaration of Independence were well educated, prosperous, and respected in their communities. Merchants, planters, doctors, and lawyers, most were between thirty and fifty years of age (the youngest was twenty-six; the oldest, seventy). The oldest signatory, Franklin is said to be the most important Founding Father and contributor to the Declaration. He's also known for inventing the lightning rod and bifocals — and of course earning a spot on the $100 bill.
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