Edward Rutledge was 26 years old when he became the youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence celebrated by America250.
Rutledge was born in Charleston, South Carolina, on November 23, 1749. He studied law in London and returned to South Carolina before becoming a delegate to the Continental Congress. He signed the Declaration as one of South Carolina’s representatives.
At age 26, Rutledge was younger than every other person who signed the engrossed document. He later served in the South Carolina legislature, became a militia officer, and was captured during the 1780 siege of Charleston along with fellow signers Arthur Middleton and Thomas Heyward Jr.
Rutledge’s youth did not mean he lacked political influence. He was already active in the independence debate and later became governor of South Carolina. The oldest signer was Benjamin Franklin, who was 70, creating a 44-year age difference between the youngest and oldest signers.