Fifty-six delegates signed the engrossed United States Declaration of Independence.
The signers represented the thirteen colonies in the Second Continental Congress. They did not all sign at exactly the same time. Most historians place the principal signing on August 2, 1776, while several delegates added their names later as they became available or joined Congress.
The group included well-known figures such as John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Samuel Adams. Their names appear beneath the Declaration's famous opening and statement of political principles. John Hancock, serving as Congress's president, signed prominently and is often remembered for the unusually large signature.
A frequent misconception is that all 56 men signed on July 4. July 4 marks adoption of the Declaration, while the physical signing largely occurred nearly a month afterward. The number 56 refers to the delegates whose names were ultimately affixed to the historic document, making it a useful fact for America250 visitors and students.