For America's 250th anniversary in 2026, 56 delegates eventually signed the Declaration of Independence.
The signers were delegates to the Second Continental Congress representing the thirteen colonies. John Hancock, president of Congress, is famous for his large signature near the top of the engrossed document. The remaining names are arranged by state, broadly from north to south, rather than in an alphabetical list.
A common misconception is that all 56 delegates signed on July 4, 1776. Most historians conclude that the primary signing ceremony took place on August 2, although some delegates signed later and others may have signed earlier. The document became official through Congress's adoption on July 4, while the signing process unfolded afterward.
The signers included future presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Benjamin Franklin was the oldest signer at age 70, while Edward Rutledge was the youngest at age 26. Signing was politically dangerous because the delegates were committing what Britain considered treason.