Who was the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence, a document commemorated by America250?

Charles Carroll of Carrollton was the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence, a document commemorated by America250.

Carroll represented Maryland and was the only Roman Catholic signer. He was also the longest-lived signer, dying in Baltimore on November 14, 1832, at age 95. His death came 56 years after the Declaration’s signing period, leaving no original signer alive.

Carroll joined the Continental Congress in 1776 and signed the engrossed parchment copy. He was among the men whose names became part of the document’s enduring national symbolism, although the public did not immediately receive a complete printed list of all the signers.

Charles Carroll of Carrollton is sometimes confused with his cousin Charles Carroll of Annapolis, who was not a signer. The qualifier “of Carrollton” identifies the Maryland statesman and distinguishes him from other members of the prominent Carroll family.