1. A Truly Young Nation
The average age of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence was 45.
The youngest was Thomas Lynch, Jr (27) of South Carolina. The oldest delegate was Benjamin Franklin (70) of Pennsylvania.
The lead author of The Declaration, Thomas Jefferson, was 33.
2. Men of Harvard
1 out of 8 signers of the signers were educated at Harvard (7 total).
Four each at William & Mary, Yale, and Princeton.
George Wythe was a professor at William & Mary and one of his students was Thomas Jefferson.
3. An Act of Treason
After signing the Declaration, John Hancock remarked that Congress must now “all hang together”.
Benjamin Franklin replied,
“Yes, we must indeed all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.”
4. Happy July 2nd
The initial date the resolution of independence was approved in a closed session of Congress was July 2, 1776.
The next day, John Adams remarked in a letter to his wife Abigail:
“The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America.
I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival.
It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.”
5. Date for History
Congress revised the Declaration for final approval on July 4, 1776.
The only two signers of the Declaration of Independence who later served as President of the United States were John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
Both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson (bitter rivals) died on the same day, July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration.
I have been told by a member of my family who has traced our family history that we are related to another signer named Charles Carroll.
