Benjamin Franklin was the oldest signer of the United States Declaration of Independence, signing at age 70.
Franklin represented Pennsylvania in the Second Continental Congress and served on the Committee of Five that prepared the Declaration. He was already internationally famous as a scientist, printer, diplomat, and political thinker when the document was created.
The age detail is often confused with the identity of the youngest signer. Edward Rutledge of South Carolina was the youngest, at 26. Franklin’s age made him a senior statesman among the delegates, while his political experience helped him contribute to the revolutionary cause.
Franklin signed the engrossed parchment in August 1776, after Congress adopted the text on July 4. His signature links the Declaration to the broader Enlightenment-era ideas and scientific culture that shaped the new United States, making him a notable figure in the history highlighted by America250.