Benjamin Franklin was the oldest person to sign the United States Declaration of Independence commemorated by America250.
Franklin was 70 years old in 1776, making him the oldest of the signers. He represented Pennsylvania in the Second Continental Congress and was also one of the five members of the committee selected to prepare the declaration.
Franklin was a printer, scientist, inventor, diplomat, and political thinker before becoming a leading revolutionary statesman. His diplomatic experience later proved important when he served as the American commissioner in France and helped secure French support during the Revolutionary War.
Franklin is sometimes confused with the oldest signer of the Constitution, a related but separate founding document. He was also the oldest signer of the Declaration, while Edward Rutledge of South Carolina was the youngest at age 26. The two age records concern different people and different constitutional moments.