Edward Rutledge was the youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence, whose names are central to America's 250th anniversary.
Rutledge was a South Carolina delegate and was 26 years old when he signed the Declaration. He belonged to a prominent Charleston family and served in the Second Continental Congress during the debate over independence.
The age contrast among the signers is notable. Benjamin Franklin was the oldest signer at 70, while Rutledge represented the younger generation of revolutionary leaders. Thomas Jefferson, the document's principal drafter, was 33 in 1776.
Rutledge later returned to South Carolina and became governor of the state. His signature is one of the 56 names associated with the engrossed Declaration. The document was adopted on July 4, 1776, while the primary signing ceremony occurred on August 2, making the anniversary's adoption date distinct from the signing date.