Who was the oldest signer of the Declaration of Independence at the time of signing?

Benjamin Franklin was the oldest signer of the Declaration of Independence at age 70.

Franklin was a Pennsylvania delegate to the Second Continental Congress and a member of the Committee of Five that prepared the declaration. His diplomatic experience and reputation made him one of the most prominent figures in the independence movement.

The signers' ages varied considerably. Franklin was 70 in 1776, while Edward Rutledge of South Carolina was the youngest signer at 26. These age comparisons concern the delegates who signed the engrossed document, not the age of the nation or the age of the Declaration itself.

Franklin later helped secure French support for the American cause and participated in shaping the United States' early foreign relations. His recognizable signature appears near the center of the document among the Pennsylvania delegation.