Benjamin Franklin was the oldest signer of the United States Constitution, a founding figure relevant to America250.
Franklin was 81 years old when he signed the Constitution on September 17, 1787. He represented Pennsylvania at the Constitutional Convention and was one of the most prominent delegates. George Washington, who presided over the convention, signed first, but he was not the oldest signer.
The youngest signer was Jonathan Dayton of New Jersey, who was 26. Franklin’s age is sometimes confused with his role as the convention’s president or with the ages of other famous founders. His public reputation also extended beyond the convention: he had been a printer, scientist, diplomat, and Pennsylvania statesman. Franklin died in 1790, only a few years after the Constitution was signed.