Delegates began signing the engrossed parchment copy of the Declaration of Independence on August 2, 1776.
The date is different from July 4, when the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration. The engrossed document was the formal parchment version prepared for signing, and most delegates who signed it did so on August 2. Other signatures were added later as additional delegates became eligible or arrived.
The final document carried 56 signatures, although not every signer had been present for the July 4 adoption. The largest and most recognizable signature belonged to John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress.
This timing creates a common mix-up: adoption, public announcement, and signing were related but separate events. America250’s anniversary centers on the 1776 independence decision, but understanding the calendar requires distinguishing July 2, July 4, and August 2.