  
Our Nation’s 232nd Birthday
– July 4th, Independence Day
It took Thomas Jefferson 17 days to
write the Declaration of Independence, and on July 2, 1776, the Congress voted to declare independence from Great Britain. After two days of debate and some changes to the
document, on July 4th, the Congress voted to accept the Declaration of
Independence. This is why we celebrate July 4th as Independence
Day.
 The Scene at the Signing of the Constitution, oil painting (reproduction) by
Howard Chandler Christy, 1940
(Courtesy of the Architect of the Capitol, Washington,
DC )
The first part of the document gives
notice of the break with Great Britain and the reasons for the break. The last
part is a list of grievances or complaints against George III.
The Declaration
of Independence is one of the most important documents in the
history of the United States. It signifies the colonies' break from Great Britain and the rule of King George III. The
Second Continental Congress formed a committee to write the Declaration, but
the Committee thought it would be better for only one person to write the
document.
The Founding Fathers
The Founding Fathers are
the individuals who were collectively appointed to attend the Constitutional
Convention as delegates by the original 13 colonies
(excluding Rhode
Island,
which did not send delegates). They found that the government established by
the Article of Confederation was not strong enough to govern the new
nation and needed to be revised. Out of the 55 delegates who were able to attend, only 39 signed the U.S. Constitution. Those who did not attend included Richard
Henry Lee, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Samuel
Adams and John Hancock.
The first painting that Trumbull completed for the Rotunda shows the presentation of the Declaration of Independence in what is now called
Independence Hall, Philadelphia. The painting features the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence
— John Adams, Roger Sherman, Thomas Jefferson (presenting the document), and
Benjamin Franklin — standing before John Hancock, the President of the
Continental Congress. The painting includes portraits of 42 of the 56 signers and 5 other patriots.
The artist sketched the individuals and the room from life.
(Courtesy of The Independence Hall Association)
Here are the names and
brief background of all 56 Founding Fathers who signed the Declaration. The
first, largest, and most famous signature is that of John Hancock, President of
the Continental Congress. The youngest signer was Edward Rutledge (age 26).
Benjamin Franklin (age 70) was the oldest. Two future presidents signed: John
Adams (second President) and Thomas Jefferson (third President).
Delegates from the State of Connecticut:
Samuel
Huntington (1731-1796)
Lawyer. Admitted to the Bar of Connecticut, 1754; King's
attorney, tax collector, town-meeting moderator, justice of the peace, Norwich
Connecticut; Appointed to the Superior court, 1773; Elected to provincial Upper
House of Assembly, appointed to the Council of Safety, Delegate to the
Continental Congress, 1776...; President of the Continental Congress, 1779-81;
Lieutenant Governor and Chief judge of Superior Court of Connecticut, 1784-86;
Governor of Connecticut, 1786-1796.
Roger
Sherman (1721-1793)
Lawyer. Admitted to Bar in New Milford Connecticut, 1754; Justice of the Peace,
elected to General Assembly, representing New Milford Connecticut, 1755-58,
1760-61; Commisary for the Connecticut Troops, 1759; Elected to various Upper
and Lower House offices representing New Haven, 1760s, 1770s; Judge of the
Superior Court of Connecticut, 1766-1789; Elected to Continental Congress,
1774-81, 1783-84; Distinguished member of the Constitutional Convention, 1787;
Elected US Senator for Connecticut, 1791-93.
Oliver
Wolcott (1726-1797)
Sheriff of Litchfield County, ca. 1751-1775; Judge, 1750s, 60s; Militia leader,
1771-1774; Commissioner of Indian Affairs, 1775, 1784-89; Delegate to the
Continental Congress, 1775-76, 1778-84; Brigadier General of the Connecticut
Militia, 1776 ... Lt. Governor of Connecticut, 1786-96; Governor, 1796-97
William
Williams (1731-1811)
Town Clerk, Selectman, Provincial Representative, Council to the Legislature.
Elected State Legislator, delegate to colonial conferences, 1775; Elected to
Continental Congress, 1776-77; Delegate to the Connecticut
convention to ratify the federal Constitution, 1787; Judge of the Windham
County Courthouse.
Delegates from the State of Delaware:
Caesar
Rodney (1728-1784)
Commissioned High Sheriff of Kent County, 1755; Elected to Colonial Assembly,
1758-70, 1771-76; Delegate to the Stamp Act Congress, 1765; Member of the
Delaware Committee of Correspondence, 1765; Elected to Continental Congress, 1774-76,
77; Military Leader, 1774-77, Elected President of the State of Delaware,
1778-80; Member of the Upper House of the State Assembly, 1776-84;
George
Read (1733-1798)
Admitted to Philadelphia Bar, 1753; Attorney General (in Delaware), 1761;
Member of Delaware Committee of Correspondence, 1774; Elected to Continental
Congress, 1774-1776; Member of Delaware Constitutional Convention, 1776; Acting
Governor of Delaware, 1777; Judge, Court of Appeals, 1780; State Senator 1791,
92; Chief Justice of the State of Delaware, 1793-98.
Thomas
McKean (1734-1817)
Deputy Attorney General to County Sussex 1756;
Admitted to Bar of Pennsylvania Supreme Court, appointed Clerk of the Assembly
of Delaware, 1757; Member of Delaware Assembly, 1762-79; Delegate to the Stamp
Act Congress, 1765; Collector of Customs and Commissioner of Revenue at New
Castle, 1771; Delegate to the Continental Congress, 1774-81; President of
Delaware, 1776; Chief Justice of Pennsylvania, 1777-97; Governor of
Pennsylvania, 1799-1812.
Delegates
from the State of Georgia:
Button
Gwinnett (1735-1777)
Commander of Georgia's Continental Battalion, Elected to Continental
Congress, 1776; President of the Georgia Council of Safety, 1777.
George
Walton (1741-1804)
Lawyer, Judge, Admitted to the Bar, 1774; Member, Secretary, Provincial
Congress of Georgia, 1776; Member, Georgia Committee of Safety, 1776; Elected
to the Continental Congress, 1776, 77, 1780, 81; Colonel of the First Georgia
Militia, 1778; Governor of Georgia, 1779; Chief Justice of Georgia, 1783-89;
Presidential Elector, Governor of Georgia, 1789; Superior Court Judge, 1789-98,
US. Senator, 1795.
Lyman
Hall (1724-1790)
Physician, Elected to Continental Congress, 1775; Delegate to the Georgia House
of Assembly, Elected Governor of Georgia, 1783; Judge, 1785.
Delegates
from the State of Massachusetts:
John
Adams (1735-1826)
Admitted to Massachusetts Bar, 1761; Elected to Massachusetts Assembly, 1770;
Attended First Continental Congress, 1774-'76; Signed Declaration of
Independence, 1776; Appointed Diplomat to France, 1776-'79; Member of assembly
to form State Constitution of Massachusetts, Minister plenipotentiary in
Europe, 1780, '81; Party to the Treaty of Peace with Gr. Britain, 1783; U.S.
Minister to the British court, c. 1783- '88; Elected first Vice President,
1789; President, 1796.“[July 4th] ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance
by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.”
John
Hancock (1737-1793)
Elected to the Boston Assembly, 1766; Delegate to, and President of, the
Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, circa 1773; Elected to Continental
Congress, 1774; Elected President of the Continental Congress, 1775; Member of
Massachusetts state Constitutional Convention, elected Governor of
Massachusetts, through 1793.“There, I guess King George will be able to read that. [Remark upon signing his signature very large on American Declaration of Independence]”
Elbridge
Gerry (1744-1814)
Member, General Court of Massachusetts, 1772; Elected to Massachusetts
Legislature, 1773; Provincial Congress, 1774; Continental Congress, 1776-81,
1783-85; Envoy to France, 1797; Governor of Massachusetts, 1810, 1811; Vice
President of the United States (with Madison), 1812
"Whenever governments mean to
invade the rights and liberties of the people, they always attempt to
destroy the militia, in order to raise an army upon their ruins."
Samuel
Adams (1722-1803)
Tax-collector; Elected to Massachusetts Assembly, 1765; Delegate to the First
Continental Congress, 1774; Signed Declaration of Independence, 1776; Member of
Massachusetts State constitutional convention, 1781; Appointed Lieutenant
Governor of Mass., 1789; Elected Governor of Massachusetts, 1794-'97."If
ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better
than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask
not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which
feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity
forget that you were our countrymen."
"All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they should."
Robert
Treat Paine (1731-1814)
Admitted to Massachusetts Bar, 1757; Elected to Provincial Assembly, 1770;
Delegate to the Continental Congress, 1774, 1776; Attorney General for
Massachusetts, 1777-1796; Judge, Supreme Court of Massachusetts, 1796-1804;
State counselor, 1804.
Delegates
from the State of Maryland:
Charles
Carroll (1737-1832)
Member of first Maryland Committee of Safety, Provincial Congress, 1775;
Delayed member of Continental Congress, August, 1776, Signed Declaration of
Independence; Appointed to board of War, 1776; Elected to Senate of Maryland,
1781; Elected U.S. Senator from Maryland, 1788, returned to Maryland Senate
1789-'99."Without
morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who
are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and
pure (and) which insures to the good eternal happiness, are undermining
the solid foundation of morals, the best security for the duration of
free governments."
Samuel
Chase (1741-1811)
Practiced Law in Annapolis; Elected to Continental Congress, 1774-1778; Chief
Justice of Criminal Court, district of Baltimore; Chief Justice, state of
Maryland, 1788-1796; Justice, US Supreme Court, 1796-1811.
Thomas
Stone (1743-1787)
Lawyer, Admitted to the Maryland Bar, 1764; Elected to the Continental
Congress, 1775-78, 1783; Elected to Constitutional Convention (declined), 1785.
William
Paca (1740-1799)
Delegate to the Maryland Legislature, 1771; Member of the Committee of
Correspondence, Patriot Leader; Elected to Continental Congress, 1774-78, Chief
Justice of Maryland, 1778; Elected Governor of Maryland, 1782; Federal District
Judge for the State of Maryland, 1789-99.
Delegates
from the State of New Jersey:
Abraham
Clark (1725-1794)
Land attorney; High Sheriff of Essex County, NJ.; Member of New Jersey
Provincial Congress; Elected to the Continental Congress, 1776 ~1784.
John
Hart (1711-1779)
Farmer, Member of the New Jersey Assembly, 1761-1771; Served on the Committee
of Safety, Committee of Correspondence, 1775; Judge of the Court of Common
Pleas, Member of Provincial Assembly 1775; Elected to the Continental Congress,
1776.
Francis
Hopkinson (1737-1791)
Lawyer, Judge, Author, Delegate to the Continental Congress, 1776; Judge of
admiralty for Pennsylvania, 1780; Appointed Judge to the US Court for the
District of Pennsylvania, 1790.
Richard
Stockton (1730-1781)
Justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey, 1774; Elected to Continental Congress, 1776
John
Witherspoon (1723-1794)
President of College of New Jersey, 1768-1792; Delegate to the Continental
Congress, 1776-1782; Twice elected to State Legislature of New Jersey.
Delegates
from the State of New Hampshire:
Josiah
Bartlett (1729-1795)
Physician, Judge, Delegate to Continental Congress, 1774-'87; Signed
Declaration of Independence, 1776; Signed Articles of Confederation, 1777;
State court Judge, Member of Federal constitutional convention, 1787; Elected
Governor of New Hampshire.
Matthew
Thornton (1714-1803)
Appointed surgeon to the New Hampshire Troops, 1745; Member of the Provincial
Assembly, 1758-62, ??-1775; Colonel of the Londonderry Militia, Londonderry
Town Selectman, 1763-75; Londonderry Committee of Safety, 1775, 76; Speaker of
the New Hampshire House of Representatives, Associate Justice of the Superior
Court, Delegate to the Continental Congress, 1776.
William
Whipple (1730-1785)
Merchant, Soldier, Judge, Elected to Provincial Congress, 1775, 76; Member of
state Council, Committee of Safety, 1776; Elected to Continental Congress,
1776-79; Commissioned Brigadier General of the New Hampshire Militia, 1777- ca.
1781; Appointed Associate Judge to the Superior Court, 1782.
Delegates
from the State of New York:
Francis
Lewis (1713-1802)
Merchant, Elected to the Continental Congress, 1775.
Lewis
Morris (1726-1798)
Member of Provincial Legislature; Deputy to
New York Convention, 1775; Delegate to the Continental Congress, 1775-77;
County judge, Worcester, 1777; Served in New York Legislature, Member of the
Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York.
Philip
Livingston (1716-1778)
Alderman, New York city; Delegate to the Albany Convention, 1754; Delegate to
the Continental Congress, 1776; Later, State Senator in New York, Delegate to
Federal Congress until 1778.
William
Floyd (1734-1821)
Soldier; Member of Continental Congress of 1774-76; Member of Congress,
1789-91; State Senator, New York,
1808.
Delegates from the State of North California:
John
Penn (1741-1788)
Law Practice in Virginia, 1762; Accepted to
the North Carolina Bar, 1774; Member of Continental Congress, 1775-77, 1779-80;
Member of the Board of War, 1780.
William
Hooper (1742-1790)
Elected to General Assembly of North Carolina, 1773; Member of Continental Congress, 1774-1776;
Judge of the Federal Court; 1786.
Joseph
Hewes (1730-1779)
Member of the Colonial Assembly of North Carolina, 1766-75. Member of the Committee of
Correspondence, member of new Provincial Assembly, 1775; Elected to Continental
Congress, 1774-79, Defacto first Secretary of the Navy.
Delegates from the State of South Carolina:
Arthur
Middleton (1742-1787)
Charleston Council of Safety, 1775; Delegate to the
Continental Congress, 1776.
Edward
Rutledge (1749-1800)
State Legislator, Representative to the Continental Congress, 1774-76, 1779;
Captain, Charleston Battalion of Artillery, 1776-1779; State legislator,
1782-1796; College of Electors, 1788, 1792, 1796; Elected Governor for South
Carolina, 1798.
Thomas
Lynch Jr. (1749-1779)
Captain of a South
Carolina
Regimental Company, 1775; Delegate to the Continental Congress, 1776.
Thomas
Heyward Jr. (1746-1809)
Elected to the Continental Congress,
1775-1778; Judge, 1783-1798.
Delegates from the State of Pennsylvania:
Benjamin
Franklin (1706-1790)
Printer, Publisher, Scientist. Clerk of the Pennsylvania Assembly, 1736;
Founded the Library Company of Philadelphia, 1731; Postmaster of Philadelphia,
1737-1753; Member of Pennsylvania Assembly, 1751-1764; Deputy Postmaster
general of the British colonies in America, 1753; Founded Academy of Sciences
of Philadelphia, 1753; Agent to Europe for Pennsylvania, 1757-1762, for
Pennsylvania, Georgia, New Jersey, Massachusetts, 1764-1775; Elected to
Continental Congress, 1775; Testified before Parliament concerning the Stamp
Act, 1776; Postmaster General of the united colonies, 1775; Commissioner to the
French Court, 1776; Minister plenipotentiary to the French Court, 1779;
Negotiator in and Member of the Treaties with Gr.-Britain, 1781-1783; Member of
the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, President of Pennsylvania
Society for the Abolition of Slavery, 1785; Senior member of the Constitutional
Convention, 1787.
"We must all hang together, or,
assuredly, we shall all hang separately."
"Any people that would give up
liberty for a little temporary safety deserves neither liberty nor
safety."
George
Clymer (1739-1813)
Merchant, Member of the Philadelphia Committee of Safety, 1773; Elected to the
Continental Congress, 1776-1780; Member of Pennsylvania Legislature, Revenue
Officer, Federal Indian Agent, 1781-1796; First president of: Philadelphia Bank,
Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts, vice-president of the Philadelphia
Agricultural Society.
Benjamin
Rush (1745-1813)
Physician, Professor of Chemistry at the College of Philadelphia, 1769; Writer,
Member of the Sons of Liberty in Philadelphia, 1773...; Elected to Pennsylvania
provincial conference, Elected to Continental Congress, 1776; Appointed
Surgeon-general to the armies of the middle department (of the Continental
Army), 1777; Instructor, Physician, University of the State of Pennsylvania, 1778...;
Treasurer of the U.S. Mint, 1779-1813; Professor of medical theory and clinical
practice, University of Pennsylvania, 1791-1813
George
Taylor (1716-1781)
Ironmaster, Elected to the provincial Assembly, 1764-69; Member of the
Committee of Correspondence, Committee of Safety,1773-76; Elected to
Continental Congress, 1775-77.
George
Ross (1730-1779)
Admitted to Pennsylvania Bar, 1750; Crown Prosecutor for Carlisle, twelve
years; Elected to Provincial Assembly, 1768-1776; Elected to Continental
Congress, 1774, 1776-77; Colonel in the Continental Army, 1776; Vice president
of the Pennsylvania constitutional convention, 1776; Judge of the Admiralty
Court of Pennsylvania, 1779.
James
Smith (1719-1806)
Lawyer
James
Wilson (1742-1798)
Admitted to the Bar, 1767; Member of the Pennsylvania provincial meeting,
appointed to a Committee of Correspondence, 1774; Elected to Provincial
Congress, 1775; Commissioned Colonel of the Fourth Cumberland County Battalion,
1775; Elected to the Continental Congress, 1775-77, 1785-87; Director of the
Bank of North America, 1781; Member of the Constitutional Convention, 1784;
Associate Justice to the US. Supreme Court, 1789-1798.
John
Morton (1724-1777)
Elected to Provincial Assembly, 1756-1775; Delegate to the Stamp Act Congress,
1765; President of the Provincial Assembly, 1775; Offices in Pennsylvania:
Justice of the Peace, High Sheriff, Presiding Judge of the General Court and
the Court of Common Pleas, Associate Judge of the Supreme Court of
Pennsylvania; Elected to Continental Congress, 1774-77.Robert
Morris (1734-1806)
Merchant, Delegate to the Continental Congress, 1775, Appointed Special
Commissioner of Finance, 1776; Author of the plan for a National Bank, 1781;
Financial Agent of the United States, 1781; Delegate to the Pennsylvania
Legislature, ca. 1783; Delegate to the Constitutional Convention, 1787; United
States Senator, 1789-95; Appointed Secretary of the Treasury, 1789
Delegates from the State of Virginia:
Benjamin
Harrison (1726-1791)
Farmer. Elected to Virginia House of Burgesses, 1764; Member of the Continental
Congress, 1774-77; Reelected to House of Burgesses, 1777, Selected as Speaker,
1778; Elected Governor of Virginia, 1782-84, 1791.
Thomas
Jefferson (1743-1826)
Lawyer. Admitted to Virginia bar, 1767; Elected to Virginia House of Burgesses,
1769; Delegate to the Continental Congress, 1775-76; Virginia House of
Delegates, 1776-79; Elected Governor of Virginia, 1779, 1780; Dispatched to
England to treat for peace with Gr. Britain, 1782; Associate Envoy to France,
1784; Minister to the French Court, 1785; Secretary of State, 1789; Established
Democratic-Republican party, 1793; Vice President of the United States, 1796;
President, 1801; Established University of Virginia, 1810."Can the liberties of a nation be
sure when we remove their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of
the people, that these liberties are a gift from God?"
"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good consciene to remain silent."
"Educate and inform the whole mass of the people...They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty."
"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them."
Carter
Braxton (1736-1797)
Farmer. Virginia House of Burgesses, 1770-85; Delegate to the Continental
Congress, 1774-75; Member, Virginia patriot's Committee of Safety, 1774; Signer
of the Declaration of Independence, 1776.
George
Wythe (1726-1806)
Educator, Lawyer. Admitted to the Bar in Virginia, 1746; Clerk of the committee
on Privileges and Elections of the House of Burgesses, 1747; Attorney General
of Virginia, 1753; Member of the House of Burgesses; 1755-65; Member of the
Board of Visitors, William and Mary, 1761; Professor of Law, William and Mary,
1769-1789; Elected to Continental Congress, 1775-76; Speaker of the Virginia
House, 1777-78; Judge of the Chancery Court of Virginia, 1789-1806
Francis
Lightfoot Lee (1734-1797)
Farmer. Member of the Virginia House of Burgesses 1758-75; Elected to
Continental Congress, 1775-79, Member of Virginia Senate.
Thomas
Nelson Jr. (1738-1789)
Farmer. Member of the House of Burgesses, 1774; Virginia provincial Convention,
1775; Officer and Commander of the Virginia Militia, 1775...;
Delegate to the Continental Congress, 1775-77, 1779; Elected Governor of
Virginia, 1781.Richard
Henry Lee (1732-1794)Farmer, Justice of the peace, 1757; Virginia House of Burgesses, 1757;
Continental Congress 1774; First U.S. Senator for Virginia, 1789.
"It
must never be forgotten...that the liberties of the people are not so
safe under the gracious manner of government as by the limitation of
power."
(Source: National Archives, Library of Congress, The Independence Hall Association)
 About the author: JoAnne
is an American businesswoman. She is the founder and
principal of Sunburst International Risk Management (SRIM) and Sunburst Worldwide Insurance Services.
For information on SIRM international risk and insurance protection
programs, custom-designed risk mitigation and training services, please
visit Sunburst websites
www.InternationalRiskManagement.com and www.WorldwideMedicalPlans.com
JoAnne also hosts
21st Century MultiNational Perspectives/Blog/FYI
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