Fifty-six delegates signed the engrossed United States Declaration of Independence.
The signers were members of the Second Continental Congress representing the thirteen colonies. The parchment copy was ordered after Congress adopted the declaration, and most delegates signed it on August 2, 1776. A few signatures were added later by delegates who were absent on that day.
The best-known signature is John Hancock's, which is unusually large and prominent. Hancock was president of the Continental Congress, but the document was not signed by only the most senior leaders. The group included merchants, lawyers, planters, physicians, soldiers, and other political figures.
The number 56 refers to signers, not to every delegate who voted for adoption or attended Congress. Twelve colonial delegations supported the July 4 vote, while New York initially abstained because its delegates had not yet received authorization from the colony.