Which state had the most signers of the Declaration?

Pennsylvania had the most signers of the Declaration of Independence, with nine delegates signing for the colony.

Its delegation included Benjamin Franklin, Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, and George Ross. Pennsylvania’s large group reflected its importance as one of the most populous and politically influential colonies.

The count can be confusing because the Declaration lists signers by colony, while John Hancock appears separately as president of Congress. Pennsylvania’s total is still higher than Virginia’s seven and Massachusetts’s five, the nearest commonly remembered comparisons.

The signing also followed a complicated political path. Pennsylvania initially opposed independence in the July 2 vote, but abstentions by John Dickinson and Robert Morris allowed its delegation to vote three-to-two in favor. Most delegates signed the engrossed parchment on August 2, 1776, rather than on July 4.