Who was the first person to sign the United States Constitution?

George Washington was the first person to sign the United States Constitution.

Washington signed first on September 17, 1787, because he presided over the Constitutional Convention. The signing ceremony took place at Independence Hall in Philadelphia after months of debate over the proposed federal government.

Thirty-nine delegates signed the Constitution in total. Washington’s signature appears first, followed by those of other delegates, including Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton. Franklin, then the convention’s oldest delegate, signed near the end of the ceremony.

Washington’s role at the convention strengthened his reputation as a national leader. He later became the first president of the United States under the Constitution, taking office in 1789. Signing the document did not itself put it into effect; ratification by the states was required.