How many people signed the Declaration of Independence?

56 delegates signed the Declaration of Independence, representing all 13 original colonies.

When was the Declaration of Independence actually signed?

The Declaration was formally signed on August 2, 1776 — not July 4. July 4, 1776 is the date Congress adopted and approved the text. Most delegates signed on August 2; a few, including Matthew Thornton of New Hampshire, signed later in 1776.

Who was the youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence?

Edward Rutledge of South Carolina, who was 26 years old when he signed.

Who was the oldest signer of the Declaration of Independence?

Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, who was 70 years old at the time of signing.

Who was the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence?

Charles Carroll of Carrollton of Maryland, who died on November 14, 1832 at age 95 — more than 56 years after signing the document.

Which signers of the Declaration of Independence became President?

Two signatories became President of the United States: John Adams (2nd President) and Thomas Jefferson (3rd President). Both died on July 4, 1826 — exactly 50 years after the Declaration's adoption.

Did signers of the Declaration of Independence suffer consequences?

Some did. Richard Stockton was captured, imprisoned, and had his estate looted. Francis Lewis had his home destroyed and wife imprisoned. Carter Braxton and Thomas Nelson Jr. lost much of their wealth. However, the popular narrative that most signers suffered ruin is overstated — many went on to distinguished careers.

Signatories of the Declaration of Independence (All 56)

Last Updated: April 2026

📖 Definition & Key Distinction What Is a Signatory — and When Did They Actually Sign?

A signatory is someone who signs an official document — in this case, the Declaration of Independence. There are 56 signatories total, representing the 13 original colonies. Here is the distinction most students miss: July 4, 1776 is the adoption date, when Congress voted to approve the text. The formal signing ceremony took place on August 2, 1776. Most delegates signed that day, but several signed later. Matthew Thornton of New Hampshire did not sign until November 1776. The date under each delegate’s name on the document reflects when Congress approved the Declaration, not when each individual signed.

🏛 Historical Setting Philadelphia, Summer 1776 — The Point of No Return

By the summer of 1776, the American colonies are already at war with Britain. The battles at Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill are more than a year in the past. General Washington’s Continental Army is fighting in New York. The 56 men who sign the Declaration are not writing from a position of strength — they are committing an act of treason against the most powerful empire on Earth. Under British law, treason carries the death penalty. Each signatory knows this. Their signatures are not symbolic. They are a declaration of personal risk as much as political principle.

The Declaration of Independence has 56 signatories from all 13 original colonies. They range from wealthy planters and merchants to lawyers, doctors, and one button-maker. Some go on to become presidents and Supreme Court justices. Others lose their fortunes, their homes, and their health. See our complete list of U.S. Presidents and our U.S. Supreme Court Justices reference page to trace how many of these men shape the new government they fight to create.

This table is organized by colony, running geographically from north to south — the most useful structure for student research. The Notes column flags signing dates, disputed details, significant post-signing roles, and notable consequences each delegate faces for putting his name on this document.

Editorial Note: Two prominent figures are often associated with the Declaration but did not sign it: Robert R. Livingston of New York served on the Committee of Five that drafted the document but was recalled to New York before the vote. John Dickinson of Pennsylvania opposed independence and refused to sign. Neither man is included among the 56 signatories. Students researching the drafting process should note their roles separately.

Fact Several signatories do suffer serious consequences. Richard Stockton of New Jersey is captured by the British, imprisoned, and has his estate looted. His health deteriorates and he dies in 1781. Francis Lewis of New York has his home destroyed and his wife taken prisoner. Thomas Nelson Jr. of Virginia reportedly orders cannon fire on his own occupied mansion during the siege of Yorktown.

Unclear Popular accounts name a specific number of signers captured by the British, but sources disagree on the exact figure and on how “capture” is defined. This list documents at least six delegates who were taken prisoner or lost at sea. The precise count is historically unclear, and we will update this entry if a reputable primary source provides a definitive accounting.

Legend The narrative that most signatories lost everything is overstated. Many — including John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Roger Sherman — go on to distinguished careers and comfortable lives. The story of universal sacrifice is compelling but selectively applied. The preamble’s phrase “we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor” reads as genuine commitment for some delegates and as rhetorical flourish for others.

New Hampshire — 3 Delegates

#	Name	Occupation / Role	Birthplace	Born	Died	Notes
1	Josiah Bartlett	Physician, judge	Amesbury, MA	1729	1795	First to vote for independence; later becomes first governor of New Hampshire.
2	William Whipple	Merchant, general	Kittery, ME	1730	1785	Serves as brigadier general during the Revolutionary War after signing.
3	Matthew Thornton	Physician	Ireland	1714	1803	Late Signer Signs in November 1776, not August 2; added to the document after other delegates had already signed. Born in Ireland — one of several foreign-born signatories.

Massachusetts — 5 Delegates

#	Name	Occupation / Role	Birthplace	Born	Died	Notes
4	John Hancock	Merchant, statesman	Braintree, MA	1737	1793	Notable Role President of the Continental Congress; signs first and largest — his signature becomes synonymous with the document itself. Later first governor of Massachusetts.
5	Samuel Adams	Political organizer, writer	Boston, MA	1722	1803	Key organizer of colonial resistance; a founding figure of the Sons of Liberty. Later governor of Massachusetts.
6	John Adams	Lawyer, statesman	Braintree, MA	1735	1826	Future President Second President of the United States (1797–1801). Dies on July 4, 1826 — the same day as Thomas Jefferson, exactly 50 years after the Declaration’s adoption.
7	Robert Treat Paine	Lawyer, judge	Boston, MA	1731	1814	Serves as first Attorney General of Massachusetts after the war.
8	Elbridge Gerry	Merchant, statesman	Marblehead, MA	1744	1814	Notable Role Later serves as Vice President under James Madison (1813–1814); name gives rise to the term “gerrymandering” due to his redistricting practices as governor.

Rhode Island — 2 Delegates

#	Name	Occupation / Role	Birthplace	Born	Died	Notes
9	Stephen Hopkins	Merchant, governor	Providence, RI	1707	1785	Oldest Rhode Island signer at 69; suffered from palsy and reportedly quipped that his hand trembled but his heart did not.
10	William Ellery	Lawyer, judge	Newport, RI	1727	1820	Newport home destroyed by British forces. Lives to age 92, one of the longest-lived signatories.

Connecticut — 4 Delegates

#	Name	Occupation / Role	Birthplace	Born	Died	Notes
11	Roger Sherman	Lawyer, cobbler, statesman	Newton, MA	1721	1793	Only Founder to sign all four major founding documents: the Articles of Association, Declaration, Articles of Confederation, and Constitution. Began adult life as a cobbler.
12	Samuel Huntington	Lawyer, statesman	Windham, CT	1731	1796	Largely self-taught lawyer; serves as President of the Continental Congress (1779–1781) and later as governor of Connecticut.
13	William Williams	Merchant, judge	Lebanon, CT	1731	1811	Funds much of Connecticut’s war effort out of personal wealth; loses a substantial fortune to the Revolution.
14	Oliver Wolcott	Lawyer, general	Windsor, CT	1726	1797	Commands Connecticut militia during the war; later serves as governor. His son Oliver Wolcott Jr. becomes Secretary of the Treasury.

New York — 4 Delegates

#	Name	Occupation / Role	Birthplace	Born	Died	Notes
15	William Floyd	Planter, general	Brookhaven, NY	1734	1821	British forces occupy his Long Island estate for seven years; family flees as refugees. Lives to age 86.
16	Philip Livingston	Merchant, philanthropist	Albany, NY	1716	1778	Dies during the war in 1778; does not live to see the victory he helps set in motion. His estate is seized by the British.
17	Francis Lewis	Merchant	Wales	1713	1802	Home destroyed by British forces; wife taken prisoner and held for months, her health permanently damaged. Lewis-born in Wales.
18	Lewis Morris	Planter, judge	Morrisania, NY	1726	1798	Large Westchester estate occupied and raided by British and Hessian troops; family scatters. Serves in Continental Army after signing.

New Jersey — 5 Delegates

#	Name	Occupation / Role	Birthplace	Born	Died	Notes
19	Richard Stockton	Lawyer, judge	Princeton, NJ	1730	1781	Captured by the British in 1776, imprisoned, and his estate looted. Some accounts say he signed a British loyalty oath to secure his release; others dispute this. The historical record on this point is unclear, and we will update this entry if a reputable primary source provides definitive clarification. His health never recovered — he dies in 1781.
20	John Witherspoon	Presbyterian minister, educator	Scotland	1723	1794	Only active clergyman to sign; president of what becomes Princeton University. Born in Scotland — one of several British-born signatories.
21	Francis Hopkinson	Lawyer, artist, writer	Philadelphia, PA	1737	1791	Claims credit for designing the first American flag (contested); also a noted composer and satirist. Serves as federal judge after the war.
22	John Hart	Farmer, statesman	Stonington, CT	c. 1713	1779	Hunted by British troops after signing; flees into the hills, farm destroyed, wife dies during the upheaval. Returns home broken in health; dies in 1779.
23	Abraham Clark	Surveyor, lawyer	Elizabethtown, NJ	1726	1794	Two sons captured and imprisoned on the British prison ship Jersey; British reportedly offer to release them if Clark recants his support for independence. He refuses.

Pennsylvania — 9 Delegates

#	Name	Occupation / Role	Birthplace	Born	Died	Notes
24	Robert Morris	Merchant, financier	England	1734	1806	Personally finances much of the Continental Army’s operations; becomes Superintendent of Finance during the war. Dies penniless after disastrous land speculation.
25	Benjamin Rush	Physician, professor	Byberry Township, PA	1745	1813	Founding figure of American medicine; serves as Surgeon General of the Continental Army. Instrumental in reconciling John Adams and Thomas Jefferson in their later years.
26	Benjamin Franklin	Printer, scientist, diplomat	Boston, MA	1706	1790	Notable Role Oldest signer at 70. Secures the French alliance that proves decisive in the war. One of the most celebrated Founders; his face appears on the $100 bill.
27	John Morton	Farmer, judge	Ridley Township, PA	1725	1777	Casts the deciding vote that puts Pennsylvania in favor of independence; shunned by former friends afterward. Dies in April 1777 — one of the first signatories to die after signing.
28	George Clymer	Merchant, banker	Philadelphia, PA	1739	1813	Philadelphia home ransacked by British troops; also signs the U.S. Constitution in 1787.
29	James Smith	Lawyer, ironmaster	Ireland	c. 1719	1806	York, PA office burned during British occupation. Born in Ireland.
30	George Taylor	Ironmaster	Ireland	1716	1781	Arrived in America as an indentured servant; rose to prominence as an ironmaster. Health declines after signing; dies in 1781. Born in Ireland.
31	James Wilson	Lawyer, jurist	Scotland	1742	1798	Notable Role Becomes one of the original Associate Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court (1789). Born in Scotland. Dies in poverty while fleeing debt collectors.
32	George Ross	Lawyer, judge	New Castle, DE	1730	1779	Uncle of Betsy Ross by marriage (disputed claim, but popularized in 19th century accounts). Serves as admiralty judge after signing; dies in office in 1779.

Delaware — 3 Delegates

#	Name	Occupation / Role	Birthplace	Born	Died	Notes
33	Caesar Rodney	Planter, general	Dover, DE	1728	1784	Rides 80 miles overnight through a thunderstorm to cast the deciding vote for Delaware’s support of independence — one of the most dramatic moments of the entire process. His image appears on Delaware’s state quarter.
34	George Read	Lawyer, judge	Cecil County, MD	1733	1798	Initially votes against independence, then signs the Declaration anyway. Later signs the Constitution; serves as Chief Justice of Delaware.
35	Thomas McKean	Lawyer, statesman	Chester County, PA	1734	1817	His exact signing date is unclear — sources place it anywhere from 1776 to as late as 1781. The historical record on this point has not been definitively settled, and we will update this entry if a reputable primary source provides clarification. He later serves as President of Congress and governor of Pennsylvania.

Maryland — 4 Delegates

#	Name	Occupation / Role	Birthplace	Born	Died	Notes
36	Samuel Chase	Lawyer, judge	Somerset County, MD	1741	1811	Notable Role Becomes Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1796); the only Supreme Court Justice ever impeached, though acquitted by the Senate in 1805.
37	William Paca	Lawyer, planter	Harford County, MD	1740	1799	Governor of Maryland during the war; Wye Hall estate survives and still stands today in Annapolis as a historic site.
38	Thomas Stone	Lawyer, planter	Charles County, MD	1743	1787	Generally cautious about independence; signs despite reservations. Wife’s health deteriorates after a smallpox inoculation; he dies shortly after her in 1787, reportedly of grief.
39	Charles Carroll of Carrollton	Planter, senator	Annapolis, MD	1737	1832	Wealthiest man in America at the time of signing; the only Roman Catholic signatory. Adds “of Carrollton” to distinguish himself and make it easier to find him, per legend. Last surviving signatory — dies at age 95 in 1832.

Virginia — 7 Delegates

#	Name	Occupation / Role	Birthplace	Born	Died	Notes
40	George Wythe	Lawyer, professor	Elizabeth City County, VA	1726	1806	America’s first law professor; mentors Thomas Jefferson, Henry Clay, and John Marshall. Murdered in 1806 — poisoned by a grandnephew seeking an inheritance.
41	Richard Henry Lee	Planter, statesman	Westmoreland County, VA	1732	1794	Introduces the resolution for independence in Congress on June 7, 1776 — the formal starting point of the process. Later serves as President of the Continental Congress and U.S. Senator.
42	Thomas Jefferson	Planter, lawyer, statesman	Shadwell, VA	1743	1826	Future President Primary author of the Declaration; third President of the United States (1801–1809). Dies on July 4, 1826 — the same day as John Adams, exactly 50 years after the Declaration’s adoption.
43	Benjamin Harrison	Planter, statesman	Berkeley Plantation, VA	c. 1726	1791	Father of future President William Henry Harrison and great-grandfather of President Benjamin Harrison — making him the patriarchal link in a three-president family line. Serves as governor of Virginia.
44	Thomas Nelson Jr.	Planter, general	Yorktown, VA	1738	1789	Commands Virginia militia at the siege of Yorktown; reportedly orders Continental artillery to fire on his own Yorktown mansion, occupied by Cornwallis. Spends his fortune on the war effort and dies nearly bankrupt.
45	Francis Lightfoot Lee	Planter, statesman	Westmoreland County, VA	1734	1797	Brother of Richard Henry Lee — one of two pairs of brothers among the signatories. Retires from public life after the war.
46	Carter Braxton	Planter, merchant	Newington Plantation, VA	1736	1797	One of the wealthiest Virginians before the war; loses ships and property to British raids and wartime economic disruption. Dies in near-poverty.

North Carolina — 3 Delegates

#	Name	Occupation / Role	Birthplace	Born	Died	Notes
47	William Hooper	Lawyer	Boston, MA	1742	1790	Had previously opposed colonial resistance movements; switches positions and supports independence. Family forced to flee multiple times as Loyalist and British forces target him.
48	Joseph Hewes	Merchant, statesman	Kingston, NJ	1730	1779	Key supporter of John Paul Jones’s naval career; helps create the Continental Navy. Overworks himself in congressional service and dies in Philadelphia in 1779.
49	John Penn	Lawyer	Caroline County, VA	1741	1788	Largely self-educated lawyer who teaches himself law from borrowed books. Serves on the Board of War during the Revolution.

South Carolina — 4 Delegates

#	Name	Occupation / Role	Birthplace	Born	Died	Notes
50	Edward Rutledge	Lawyer, planter	Charleston, SC	1749	1800	Youngest signer at 26. Captured by the British in 1780 and held prisoner for nearly a year. Later serves as governor of South Carolina.
51	Thomas Heyward Jr.	Lawyer, planter	St. Luke’s Parish, SC	1746	1809	Captured by the British in 1780; held prisoner at St. Augustine for nearly a year. Estate looted during the war.
52	Thomas Lynch Jr.	Planter	Prince George’s Parish, SC	1749	1779	Health severely damaged during the war; sets sail for a warmer climate in 1779 and is lost at sea, presumed dead at age 30. One of the shortest-lived signatories.
53	Arthur Middleton	Planter, statesman	Middleton Place, SC	1742	1787	Captured by the British at Charleston in 1780 and held prisoner for a year. Estate ransacked; he dies relatively young at 44 in 1787.

Georgia — 3 Delegates

#	Name	Occupation / Role	Birthplace	Born	Died	Notes
54	Button Gwinnett	Merchant, planter	England	c. 1735	1777	Name is memorably distinctive. Dies in a duel in May 1777 — less than a year after signing. His autograph is among the rarest of all signatories and commands extraordinary prices at auction.
55	Lyman Hall	Physician, minister	Wallingford, CT	1724	1790	Plantation burned by the British; flees to the North during British occupation of Georgia. Returns after the war and serves as governor of Georgia.
56	George Walton	Lawyer, statesman	Prince Edward County, VA	c. 1749	1804	Wounded and captured by the British at the Battle of Savannah in 1778. Serves as governor of Georgia twice and as a U.S. Senator.