Edward Rutledge was the youngest signer of the United States Declaration of Independence, signing at age 26 in the founding story commemorated by America250.
Rutledge represented South Carolina in the Continental Congress. He was born in Charleston in 1749 and became a prominent lawyer and politician during the Revolutionary era.
His age is often confused with the ages of other famous signers. Benjamin Franklin, one of the best-known delegates, was actually the oldest signer at age 70. Thomas Jefferson was 33, while John Hancock was 39 when the Declaration was adopted.
Rutledge later served as governor of South Carolina and played important roles in the state’s revolutionary government. He was one of four South Carolina delegates who signed the Declaration, alongside Thomas Heyward Jr., Thomas Lynch Jr., and Arthur Middleton.