Essential Facts
- Date: 50 delegates signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
- First Signer: John Hancock.
- Oldest Signer: Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania was 70.
- Youngest Signer: Edward Rutledge of South Carolina was 26.
- Last Living Signer: Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Maryland, was the last living Signer, dying in 1832 at the age of 95.
- Part of: American Revolution (1763—1783).
Key Details
- The term “Signer” refers to one of the 56 members of the Second Continental Congress who signed the Declaration of Independence on or after August 2, 1776.
- By signing the Declaration, they were likely to be executed if Britain won the war.
- The names of the Signers were kept secret until January 18, 1777. Once their names were public, many of them suffered property damage, and at least 15 homes were destroyed. Some were captured and held as prisoners by the British.
- Most of the Signers were educated and prosperous, in their 30s and 40s.
- Forty-eight Signers were born in America, and eight were born outside the colonies or in the British Isles.
- Sixteen Signers also signed the Articles of Confederation, and six also signed the United States Constitution.
- Roger Sherman (Connecticut) and Robert Morris (Pennsylvania) were the only two Signers to sign the Declaration, the Articles of Confederation, and the United States Constitution.
- John Adams and Thomas Jefferson went on to serve as the President of the United States.
- All 56 Signers are considered to be Founding Fathers.
History
The process of signing the Declaration started on August 2, 1776, when John Hancock and 49 other members of the Second Continental Congress signed their names to a copy engrossed (printed) on parchment.
- John Hancock of Massachusetts, the President of Congress, was the first to sign on August 2, 1776.
- The remaining 49 delegates signed below the text.
- Six more delegates signed after August 2, 1776.
Timeline of Signing the Declaration of Independence
May 15, 1776 — The Virginia Convention passed a resolution instructing its delegates to the Second Continental Congress, “to propose…to declare the United Colonies free and independent states.”
June 7, 1776 — Richard Henry Lee, one of the Virginia delegates, introduced a resolution that said: “Resolved, that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.”
June 11, 1776 — Congress created a “Committee of Five” to draft a statement presenting the colonies’ case for independence to the world. The members of this committee were: Thomas Jefferson (Virginia), John Adams (Massachusetts), Benjamin Franklin (Pennsylvania), Robert R. Livingston (New York), and Roger Sherman (Connecticut). The committee members assigned the task of writing the initial draft to Jefferson.
June 11–28, 1776 — Jefferson wrote his draft of the Declaration, which declared independence, outlined America’s grievances, and famously criticized King George III for Britain’s ongoing involvement in the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
June 28, 1776 — The Committee of Five presented the document entitled “A Declaration by the Representatives of the United States of America in General Congress assembled” to Congress.
July 2, 1776 — The Congress approved Richard Henry Lee’s proposal for independence, officially declaring independence from Great Britain.
July 4, 1776 — After two days of debate and editing, Congress adopted the final draft of the Declaration of Independence. Congress hired John Dunlap to print 200 copies for distribution. These copies are known as the “Dunlap Broadsides.”
July 19, 1776 — Congress instructed that the Declaration should be “fairly engrossed on parchment, with the title and stile [sic] of ‘The unanimous declaration of the thirteen United States of America’ and that the same, when engrossed, be signed by every member of Congress.” It is widely held that the Clerk to the Secretary, Timothy Matlack, printed this copy of the Declaration by hand.
August 2, 1777 — 50 delegates, led by John Hancock, signed the Declaration of Independence.
January 18, 1777 — Mary Katherine Goddard of Maryland received a commission from Congress to print the first copy of the Declaration for the public, which included the names of the Signers. This is known as the “Goddard Broadside.”
AHC Note — The Signers are listed here, in geographic order, from North to South.
New Hampshire
Josiah Bartlett (1729–1795) — Bartlett was a New Hampshire physician, Patriot, and statesman who rose from local leadership to national prominence during the American Revolution. He served in the New Hampshire Provincial Assembly, supported the Patriot Cause, and was the first delegate to vote for the Declaration of Independence. After the war, he served as the chief executive and later as the Governor under the new New Hampshire Constitution. He also strengthened early American medicine by helping to found the New Hampshire Medical Society in 1791.
- Date Signed: Josiah Bartlett Signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
Matthew Thornton (c. 1714–1803) — Thornton was a Scotch-Irish immigrant, physician, and leading New Hampshire Patriot who rose to prominence during the American Revolution. He served in the colonial legislature, opposed the Stamp Act (1765), and became President of the New Hampshire Provincial Congress and chairman of the Committee of Safety. Elected to the Continental Congress in 1776, he arrived in time to sign the Declaration of Independence. He later held several state offices and remained an influential figure in early New Hampshire politics.
- Date Signed: Matthew Thornton signed the Declaration on November 4, 1776.
William Whipple (1730–1785) — Whipple was a New Hampshire Patriot who signed the Declaration of Independence and later served in the state legislature and as an Associate Justice of the Superior Court. Active in Revolutionary politics, he supported firm measures against Loyalists and pushed for a stronger national effort during the war.
- Date Signed: William Whipple signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
Massachusetts
John Adams (1735–1826) — Adams was a Massachusetts lawyer, visionary leader of the Patriot Cause, and key diplomat who helped guide the movement toward independence and later negotiated the Treaty of Paris that ended the American Revolutionary War. He served as the first Vice President and became the second President of the United States. His administration was plagued by tensions with France and internal party conflict over his decision to pursue peace rather than war. Although unpopular, his decision helped stabilize the young nation.
- Date Signed: John Adams signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
Samuel Adams (1722–1803) — Adams was a leading Massachusetts Patriot who helped organize resistance to British policy through Committees of Correspondence, public writing, and political leadership. He played a central role in the protests leading to the Boston Tea Party (1773), supported intercolonial cooperation, and served as a delegate to both Continental Congresses. He voted for and signed the Declaration of Independence and later held state offices, including Governor.
- Date Signed: Samuel Adams signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
Elbridge Gerry (1744–1814) — Gerry was a leading Massachusetts Patriot, signer of the Declaration of Independence, delegate to the Continental Congress, and later Vice President under James Madison. Gerry played major roles in early resistance to British policies, army supply efforts, and national debates over finance and federal power. He opposed the Constitution in 1787, served in Congress, served as Governor of Massachusetts, and shaped political history through the 1812 redistricting measure that introduced the term “gerrymander.”
- Date Signed: Gerry signed the Declaration on September 3, 1776
John Hancock (1737–1793) — Hancock was a wealthy Boston merchant and influential Patriot leader. He gained prominence through his opposition to British policies, especially after the Liberty Affair (1768). He served as President of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress and later the Continental Congress, where he became the first signer of the Declaration of Independence. As the first Governor of Massachusetts, he helped guide the state through political unrest and supported the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
- Date Signed: Hancock signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
Robert Treat Paine (1731–1814) — Paine was a Massachusetts lawyer, Patriot leader, and signer of the Declaration of Independence. Paine gained early notice for his role in the Boston Massacre Trial and later served in the Continental Congress, where he worked on military supply and signed the Olive Branch Petition. He became Massachusetts’s first Attorney General, helped draft the Massachusetts Constitution, and later served on the Massachusetts Supreme Court.
- Date Signed: Paine signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
Rhode Island
William Ellery (1727–1820) — Ellery was a Rhode Island Patriot and signer of the Declaration of Independence who served in the Continental Congress from 1776 to 1786. As a member of Congress, Ellery contributed extensively to committee work on trade and naval affairs, and later held federal posts, including as commissioner of the Continental Loan Office and Collector of Customs at Newport.
- Date Signed: Ellery signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
Stephen Hopkins (1707–1785) — Hopkins was a Rhode Island political leader, merchant, and signer of the Declaration of Independence who played a central role in colonial resistance to British policy. He served multiple terms as governor, supported intercolonial cooperation, and authored influential writings, including “The Rights of Colonies Examined.”
- Date Signed: Hopkins signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
Connecticut
Samuel Huntington (1731–1796) — Huntington was a Connecticut political leader who rose from modest beginnings to become a key figure in the American Revolution and the early national period. He served in the Continental Congress, signed the Declaration of Independence, and was the President of the Congress from 1779 to 1781. He later became Connecticut’s Governor and supported the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
- Date Signed: Huntington signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
Roger Sherman (1721–1793) — Sherman was a self-taught New England leader who became one of the most experienced statesmen of the 18th Century. He served in the Continental Congress, helped draft the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation, and played a key role at the Federal Convention by introducing the Connecticut Compromise, which shaped the structure of Congress. He later served in the U.S. House and Senate and remained an influential voice in early national politics.
- Date Signed: Sherman signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
William Williams (1731–1811) — Williams was a Connecticut leader who supported the Patriot Cause through financial aid, political service, and public writing. He signed the Declaration of Independence, served in the Continental Congress, and helped frame early national policies. Williams backed military efforts with personal funds, contributed to key state papers, and held long-term positions in the Connecticut Legislature, Governor’s Council, and judiciary.
- Date Signed: Williams signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
Oliver Wolcott (1726–1797) — Wolcott was a Connecticut leader who served in the Continental Congress, signed the Declaration of Independence, held key military commands during the American Revolutionary War, and later became Governor. He supported the war to protect civil and religious liberty and helped shape early state and national policy through his judicial service, treaty work with Native American Indians, and participation in the state convention that approved the Constitution.
- Date Signed: Oliver Wolcott signed the Declaration in September or October of 1776. The exact date is unknown.
New York
William Floyd (1734–1821) — Floyd was a New York landowner, militia officer, and signer of the Declaration of Independence who served in the Continental Congress during the American Revolutionary War. Known for steady committee work and loyalty to the Patriot Cause, he suffered personal losses when the British seized his property. After the war, he held several state and national offices, including service in the First Congress, and remained active in public life into the early 19th Century.
- Date Signed: Floyd signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
Francis Lewis (1713–1802) — Lewis was a New York merchant and Patriot leader who became a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Initially prohibited by New York from voting for independence on July 4, 1776, he later signed the document on August 2. The British destroyed his home and captured his wife, whose harsh captivity led to her death in 1779. Lewis sacrificed his property and much of his wealth for the American Cause and spent his final years living with his sons’ families.
- Date Signed: Lewis signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
Philip Livingston (1716–1778) — A New York merchant, civic leader, and moderate Patriot who supported education, public institutions, and charitable causes. He served in the New York Assembly, took part in major protests against British policy, and held seats in both Continental Congresses. Although cautious about independence, he signed the Declaration of Independence in August 1776. His long record of public service, including efforts to strengthen colonial unity, made him an important figure in early American political life.
- Date Signed: Livingston signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
Lewis Morris (1726–1798) — Morris was a New York landowner, militia officer, and Signer of the Declaration of Independence who balanced military duty with extensive civil service during and after the American Revolutionary War. He served in the New York Provincial Congress, fought in the New York Campaign (1776), and later held judicial and legislative positions in Westchester County and the state government. After the war, he rebuilt his damaged estate, joined key state boards, and supported ratification of the U.S. Constitution at the Poughkeepsie Convention.
- Date Signed: Morris signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
New Jersey
Abraham Clark (1726–1794) — Clark was a New Jersey surveyor, lawyer, and influential Patriot who supported independence and represented his colony in the Continental Congress. Known as “The Poor Man’s Counselor” for offering free legal advice, he voted for and signed the Declaration of Independence. He later opposed the Constitution until the Bill of Rights was added and served in the Second and Third Congresses, contributing to the early debates over federal power and individual rights.
- Date Signed: Clark signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
John Hart (1711–1779) — Hart was a New Jersey farmer and local leader who became an important figure in the movement toward American independence. A strong defender of colonial rights, he served in the Provincial Congress, helped guide New Jersey’s early Revolutionary government, and signed the Declaration of Independence. His property suffered during the war, and poor health forced his retirement in 1778.
- Date Signed: Hart signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
Francis Hopkinson (1737–1791) — Hopkinson was a lawyer, writer, artist, and public official from Pennsylvania who signed the Declaration of Independence and served in the Continental Congress. He contributed to Revolutionary political satire, designed important government seals, and created the American flag in 1777. Hopkinson later served as a Federal Judge appointed by President George Washington. His wide-ranging work in law, politics, art, and music helped shape the cultural and political identity of the early United States.
- Date Signed: Hopkinson signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
Richard Stockton (1730–1781) — Stockton was a New Jersey lawyer and politician who served in the Continental Congress and signed the Declaration of Independence. Initially favoring compromise with Great Britain, he opposed Parliament’s policy of Taxation Without Representation and later supported independence. After British forces captured him in November 1776, he endured harsh imprisonment in New York City and was released after signing an Oath of Loyalty to King George III. He returned home in poor health and died in 1781.
- Date Signed: Stockton signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
John Witherspoon (1723–1794) — Witherspoon was a Scottish-born Presbyterian minister, educator, and political leader who became president of the College of New Jersey and a key figure in unifying the American Presbyterian Church. He served in the Continental Congress, supported independence, and helped shape early national policy. His writings influenced Revolutionary thought, and his long career as a teacher prepared many future leaders of the new nation.
- Date Signed: Witherspoon signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
Pennsylvania
George Clymer (1739–1813) — Clymer was a Philadelphia merchant, early Patriot, and committed public servant who signed both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. He served multiple terms in the Continental Congress, worked on key financial and military committees, supported penal reform in Pennsylvania, and backed republican principles in the new federal government. His long career reflected the broad civic responsibilities of early American leaders during the nation’s formative years.
- Date Signed: Clymer signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) — Franklin was a leading figure of the 18th Century who embodied Enlightenment values through practical science, diplomacy, and public service. Known for major electrical experiments, clear scientific writing, and inventions, he also held key roles in the American Revolution, secured the Franco-American Alliance, and supported the drafting of the Constitution. He is widely recognized as one of the most significant early American thinkers and statesmen.
- Date Signed: Franklin signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
Robert Morris (1734–1806) — Morris was a leading financier of the American Revolution who used his commercial skill and personal credit to supply the Continental Army, secure foreign loans, and stabilize wartime finances. As Superintendent of Finance, he worked to restore public credit, created the Bank of North America, and promoted a stronger national government. He later served in the United States Senate, but failed land speculation investments led to bankruptcy and imprisonment.
- Date Signed: Morris signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
John Morton (c. 1724–1777) — Morton was a Pennsylvania statesman who served in the Provincial Assembly, attended the Stamp Act Congress (1765), and represented Pennsylvania in the Continental Congress. His pivotal vote in July 1776 placed Pennsylvania on the side of independence, helping secure approval of the Declaration of Independence. He chaired the Committee of the Whole during debates on the Articles of Confederation and held numerous county judicial and administrative offices throughout his career.
- Date Signed: Morton signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
George Ross (1730–1779) — Ross was a Pennsylvania lawyer, legislator, and Signer of the Declaration of Independence who shifted from moderate Loyalist views to active support for the Patriot Cause. He served in the Pennsylvania Assembly, participated in the Continental Congress, and helped frame Pennsylvania’s 1776 constitution. Later appointed judge of the state’s admiralty court, he played a central role in the Active Case, a major dispute over State and Federal authority.
- Date Signed: Ross signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
Benjamin Rush (1745–1813) — Rush was a leading American physician, educator, and social reformer who signed the Declaration of Independence and became one of the most influential medical teachers of the Early Republic. He promoted abolition, temperance, prison reform, and expanded education, and played a major role in establishing Philadelphia as the nation’s center for medical training. Although controversial for his medical “system,” he made significant contributions to psychiatry, public health, and early American civic life.
- Date Signed: Rush signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
James Smith (c. 1719–1806) — Smith was a Pennsylvania lawyer, militia officer, and strong supporter of state authority. Smith played an active role in Revolutionary politics. He served in the provincial and state governments, signed the Declaration of Independence, and later held positions including those of assemblyman, judge, and Brigadier General of the militia. Known for his sharp wit and long legal career, he helped shape Pennsylvania’s political and legal development during the Early Republic.
- Date Signed: Smith signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
George Taylor (1716–1781) — Taylor was a Pennsylvania ironmaster and moderate radical who rose to political prominence during the years leading to the American Revolution. After serving on local committees, including a Committee of Correspondence, he entered the Provincial Assembly and supported resistance to British policies. In July 1776, he replaced a delegate who refused to approve the Declaration of Independence and signed the final document on August 2. He briefly served on Pennsylvania’s Supreme Executive Council before retiring due to illness.
- Date Signed: Taylor signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
James Wilson (1742–1798) — Wilson was a Founding Father, legal thinker, and early Supreme Court justice whose final years were marked by debt, declining health, and personal hardship. After remarrying in 1793, he faced financial ruin due to failed land speculation and moved to Burlington, New Jersey, to avoid arrest. His mental and physical condition collapsed in 1798, leading to his death in Edenton, North Carolina.
- Date Signed: Wilson signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
Delaware
Thomas McKean (1734–1817) — McKean was a leading statesman from Pennsylvania who represented Delaware in the Second Continental Congress. McKean helped secure independence and later became the Chief Justice of Pennsylvania and the Governor. Known for defending strong executive authority and an independent judiciary, he resisted radical reforms and shaped early state politics. His long career, legal writings, and role in stabilizing Pennsylvania made him an important figure in early American constitutional development.
- Date Signed: McKean signed the Declaration after August 2. However, he claimed to have signed before the end of 1776, but it was likely not until January 18, 1777, or possibly as late as 1781, when he affixed his signature.
George Read (1733–1798) — A leading Delaware statesman, Read served as one of the state’s first United States senators and supported major Federalist measures, including assumption, the national bank, and the excise law. He backed strong executive authority and argued that the president should control the removal of appointed officials. Read resigned from the Senate in 1793 to become Chief Justice of Delaware.
- Date Signed: Read signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
Caesar Rodney (1728–1784) — Rodney was a Delaware Patriot and statesman who served in the colonial assembly, Continental Congress, and state government during the American Revolution. Rodney is best known for his urgent ride to Philadelphia on July 2, 1776, where he cast Delaware’s deciding vote in favor of independence. He later served as President of Delaware, oversaw the state’s wartime administration, and held senior militia commands.
- Date Signed: Rodney signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
Maryland
Charles Carroll of Carrollton (1737–1832) — A leading Maryland statesman, Carroll supported the ratification of the Constitution, served as one of the state’s first U.S. senators, and later focused on managing his extensive landholdings. He opposed the War of 1812 and backed major internal improvement projects, including the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. At his death, he was the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence and one of the wealthiest citizens in the United States.
- Date Signed: Carroll signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
Samuel Chase (1741–1811) — Chase was a Maryland lawyer, Patriot leader, and Signer of the Declaration of Independence who became one of the earliest justices on the United States Supreme Court. Chase played an active role in the Continental Congress, supported independence, and shaped early constitutional law through influential opinions on federal power and treaty supremacy. His 1804 impeachment, driven by political conflict, ended in acquittal and helped establish the principle of judicial independence in the Early Republic.
- Date Signed: Chase signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
William Paca (1740–1799) — Paca was a Maryland lawyer, Patriot leader, and Signer of the Declaration of Independence. He served in the Continental Congress, helped write Maryland’s state constitution, and supported the American war effort through public service and personal funds. He later became Governor of Maryland and served as a Federal District Judge.
- Date Signed: Paca signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
Thomas Stone (1743–1787) — Stone was a Maryland statesman, moderate Patriot, and Signer of the Declaration of Independence who supported independence while favoring cautious political action. He served in the Continental Congress, helped draft the Articles of Confederation, and later worked in the Maryland Senate and the Congress of the Confederation. Chosen for the Constitutional Convention, he declined due to his wife’s illness.
- Date Signed: Stone signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
Virginia
Carter Braxton (1736–1797) — Braxton was a Virginia political leader and Signer of the Declaration of Independence who came from a powerful Tidewater family. He served in the House of Burgesses, helped settle the Virginia Gunpowder Incident (1775), and briefly sat in the Continental Congress. Known for his conservative views on government, he later served for many years in the Virginia Assembly.
- Date Signed: Braxton signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
Benjamin Harrison (1726–1791) — Harrison was a Virginia politician who rose to prominence during the American Revolution. Although he signed the Declaration of Independence, making him a Founding Father, he is likely better known as the father of one President, William Henry Harrison, and the great-grandfather of another, Benjamin Harrison.
- Date Signed: Harrison signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) — Jefferson was a Virginia statesman, diplomat, and political thinker who authored the Declaration of Independence and advanced the principles of natural rights and republican government. He served as governor of Virginia, Minister to France, the first Secretary of State, and the third President of the United States. His presidency included the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition. A strong advocate of religious liberty and public education, he founded the University of Virginia and is recognized for his influence on American political and cultural development.
- Date Signed: Jefferson signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
Francis Lightfoot Lee (1734–1797) — Lee was a Virginia statesman and Patriot leader who served in the House of Burgesses and the Continental Congress. He signed the Westmoreland Association against the Stamp Act (1765), helped organize the Virginia Conventions, and was a Signer of the Declaration of Independence. A strong supporter of American independence and the Federal Constitution, he was influential behind the scenes through committee work and political coordination, though his shy and reserved nature limited his public recognition.
- Date Signed: Lee signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
Richard Henry Lee (1732–1794) — Lee was a Virginia statesman and early advocate for colonial rights who emerged as a leading Patriot during the American Revolution. He opposed British tax measures, helped organize the Westmoreland Association (see Leedstown Resolves), and promoted intercolonial Committees of Correspondence. In June 1776, he introduced the resolution calling for independence, foreign alliances, and a confederation. Later, he became a vocal critic of the Constitution and worked to secure the Bill of Rights as a U.S. senator.
- Date Signed: Lee signed the Declaration after August 27, 1776.
Thomas Nelson Jr. (1738–1789) — Nelson was a Virginia planter, politician, and Patriot leader who played a key role in the movement for independence. He served in the House of Burgesses, introduced the 1776 resolutions calling for independence, and signed the Declaration of Independence. Ill health limited his time in the Continental Congress, but he later became the Governor of Virginia and helped lead the state militia during the Siege of Yorktown (1781). He sacrificed his personal fortune to support Virginia’s war effort.
- Date Signed: Nelson Jr. Signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
George Wythe (1726–1806) — Wythe emerged as one of Virginia’s most respected legal minds during the 18th Century. Known for his integrity, scholarship, and commitment to justice, he shaped early American law through his service in the House of Burgesses, the courts, and the College of William and Mary. He contributed to major political debates, supported independence, and issued one of the earliest statements of Judicial Review.
- Date Signed: Wythe signed the Declaration sometime in September 1776. The exact date is unknown.
North Carolina
William Hooper (1742–1790) — Hooper was a North Carolina political leader, Signer of the Declaration of Independence, and member of the Continental Congress who supported independence early, helped organize the Provincial Congresses, and later backed the Federal Constitution.
- Date Signed: Hooper signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
Joseph Hewes (1730–1779) — Hewes was a North Carolina merchant and political leader who became a key figure in the Patriot Cause. He served in the colonial assembly, all five Provincial Congresses, and the Continental Congress, where he supported non-importation, helped draft major policy documents, and became the leading force in creating the early United States Navy. His shift toward supporting independence reflected growing public sentiment, and his intense workload during the war led to his death in Philadelphia in 1779.
- Date Signed: Hewes signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
John Penn (1741–1788) — Penn was a North Carolina statesman who rose from limited schooling to become a key Patriot leader. After moving from Virginia in 1774, he entered the Provincial Congress and soon joined the Continental Congress, where he signed the Declaration of Independence. He helped secure military supplies and manage North Carolina’s finances during the war. Penn later served on the state’s Board of War before returning to his legal practice.
- Date Signed: Penn signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
South Carolina
Thomas Heyward Jr. (1746–1809) — Heyward was a South Carolina lawyer, planter, militia officer, and delegate to the Second Continental Congress. He signed the Declaration of Independence, helped draft South Carolina’s 1776 constitution, and served in the Provincial Congresses. During the American Revolutionary War, he fought in the militia, was wounded at Port Royal Island, and was captured in the Siege of Charleston (1780). After his release, he served as a judge and became a leading figure in South Carolina’s agricultural development.
- Date Signed: Heyward Jr. signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
Thomas Lynch Jr. (1749–1779) — Lynch was a South Carolina planter, legislator, and delegate to the Second Continental Congress who supported and signed the Declaration of Independence. Educated in England and active in early Patriot politics, he helped draft South Carolina’s 1776 constitution and served briefly as a Captain in the 1st South Carolina Regiment before illness forced him from public life. He and his wife were lost at sea in 1779 while seeking recovery for his declining health.
- Date Signed: Lynch Jr. signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
Arthur Middleton (1742–1787) — Middleton was a South Carolina planter and Patriot leader who served in the Provincial Congresses, joined key resistance committees, helped draft South Carolina’s 1776 constitution, and supported strong measures against Loyalists. He served in the Continental Congress and signed the Declaration of Independence. Captured during the Siege of Charleston (1780) and later exchanged, he returned to Congress in 1781 and remained active in public life after the war.
- Date Signed: Middleton signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
Edward Rutledge (1749–1800) — Rutledge was a South Carolina lawyer, Patriot leader, and the youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence. He served in the Provincial Congresses and the Continental Congress, guided South Carolina’s vote for independence, and later worked in the state legislature. Captured during the Siege of Charleston (1780), he returned to public life after his release and helped shape postwar policies. He served as a Federalist leader, state Senator, and Governor until his death in 1800.
- Date Signed: Rutledge signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
Georgia
Button Gwinnett (c. 1735–1777) — Gwinnett was a Georgia merchant and planter who became a leading political figure during the American Revolution. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress, signed the Declaration of Independence, and briefly served as Georgia’s “President of the State.” His rivalry with General Lachlan McIntosh led to a duel in May 1777, in which he was mortally wounded. His early death and limited public record made his autograph one of the rarest among the signers.
- Date Signed: Gwinnett signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
Lyman Hall (1724–1790) — Hall was a New England–born physician and political leader who became a key figure in Georgia’s shift toward the Patriot Cause. After guiding St. John’s Parish to elect him as its delegate, he joined the Continental Congress in 1775 and later signed the Declaration of Independence. He served as the Governor of Georgia in 1783 and promoted the creation of one of the nation’s first state-supported universities through a major land grant.
- Date Signed: Hall signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
George Walton (1741–1804) — Walton was a Georgia Patriot, political leader, and Signer of the Declaration of Independence who served in the Continental Congress, held two terms as Governor of Georgia, and worked as Chief Justice and United States Senator. He helped shape Georgia’s political structure, negotiated treaties with Native American Indians, and promoted education. He played a major role in stabilizing the state during and after the American Revolution.
- Date Signed: Walson signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
Appendix
Background of the Signers
The 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence came from diverse backgrounds, but most were well-educated, prosperous business, political, and community leaders who led the Patriot Cause and helped shape the founding documents of the United States.
- Benjamin Franklin (Pennsylvania) was likely the most famous at the time, as he was well-known in Europe.
- Two signers, Caesar Rodney (Delaware) and Joseph Hewes (New Jersey), were bachelors; Carter Braxton (Virginia) was the father of 18 children.
- Francis Hopkinson (Pennsylvania) was a musician and poet, while Lyman Hall (Georgia) and John Witherspoon (New Jersey) were clergymen.
- 24 out of 56 signers were lawyers.
Risks and Sacrifices of the Signers
The Signers of the Declaration of Independence are remembered for their courage in risking execution as traitors, enduring personal loss, imprisonment, and destruction of property, while their identities remained secret until early 1777 to protect them from British retaliation.
- The Signers are admired for signing the Declaration of Independence, as they risked being hanged as traitors if Britain had won the war and regained control of the American Colonies.
- The names of the Signers were kept secret until January 18, 1777, when victories at Trenton and Princeton inspired Congress to release an authenticated copy of the Declaration with their names.
- While no Signer died directly at the hands of the British, two suffered greatly: Francis Lewis (New York) and Richard Stockton (New Jersey) had their homes destroyed, and both experienced personal suffering due to British actions. Lewis’s wife and Stockton suffered captivity that ruined their health.
- John Hart (New Jersey) had his farm destroyed, and he and his wife hid in the woods for months, which affected her health.
- Elbridge Gerry (Massachusetts) and Thomas Jefferson (Virginia) narrowly escaped capture, while six other Signers avoided being captured by British forces that had been sent to pursue them.
- It is believed that the homes of at least 15 Signers were destroyed during the war.
Delegates Who Did Not Sign
Not all members of Congress signed the Declaration of Independence, as some opposed it. Others were absent or engaged in other duties.
- Fourteen of the 56 Signers were not present on July 2, 1776, when the Lee Resolution was adopted, or on July 4, when the Declaration of Independence was approved.
Eight delegates who were present on July 2 or 4 did not sign the engrossed copy of the Declaration. The notable names in this group are John Dickinson (Pennsylvania) and Robert R. Livingston (New York).
- They disagreed with the timing of the decision.
- Livingston disagreed even though he had been a member of the Committee of Five, which had been tasked with drafting the Declaration.
Some opponents of independence, including Carter Braxton (Virginia), Robert Morris (Pennsylvania), George Read (Delaware), and Edward Rutledge (South Carolina), signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
Delegates who could not sign because they were no longer in Congress included George Washington (Virginia), John Sullivan (New Hampshire), and George Clinton (New York), all of whom were leading military forces in the war.
Christopher Gadsden (South Carolina) and Patrick Henry (Virginia) were involved with their state governments and were unable to sign.
AP US History
Signers of the Declaration of Independence are part of the following units, topics, and chapters in the AP US History Curriculum:
