Signers of the Declaration of IndependenceIn Order of Signing
The public did not learn the actual words of the Declaration until July 8th. The final version was called a "unanimous" declaration. But the word "unanimous" could not be properly used until July 19th, when the New York delegation to Congress, which had not voted on July 4th, reported that it favored the Declaration. Congress then ordered a copy of the Declaration engrossed on parchment and signed by all members of Congress.
Fifty members of Congress signed the engrossed copy of the Declaration on August 2, 1776.
In the order they signed, they were:
George Wythe (Va.) signed on August 27th. On September 4th, the document was signed by Richard Henry Lee (Va.) , Elbridge Gerry (Mass.), and Oliver Wolcott (Conn.). Matthew Thornton (N.H.) signed on November 19th. Thomas McKean (Del.) signed in 1781.
Signers and Their States
CONNECTICUT
PENNSYLVANIA DELAWARE
RHODE ISLAND
NEW YORK
NORTH CAROLINA
MASSACHUSETTS
Alphabetical List of The
Signers of the Declaration of Independence"And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Devine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our Sacred Honor."
John Adams Thomas Lynch, Jr. Samuel Adams Thomas McKean Josiah Bartlett Arthur Middleton Carter Braxton Lewis Morris Charles Carroll of Carrollton Robert Morris Samuel Chase John Morton Abraham Clark Thomas Nelson, Jr. George Clymer William Paca William Ellery Robert Treat Paine William Floyd John Penn Benjamin Franklin George Read Elbridge Gerry Caesar Rodney Button Gwinnett George Ross Lyman Hall Benjamin Rush John Hancock Edward Rutledge Benjamin Harrison Roger Sherman John Hart James Smith Joseph Hewes Richard Stockton Thomas Heyward, Jr. Thomas Stone William Hooper George Taylor Stephen Hopkins Matthew Thornton Francis Hopkinson George Walton Samuel Huntington William Whipple Thomas Jefferson William Williams Francis Lightfoot Lee James Wilson Richard Henry Lee John Witherspoon Francis Lewis Oliver Wolcott Philip Livingston George Wythe The name of Charles Duane Williams, descendant of Benjamin Franklin, who died on the S.S. Titanic April 14, 1912, to save the lives of others, as representative of all those who, since the signing of the Declaration, have given their lives for their countrymen, shall be carried forever on the roll of the society and be called whenever the names of the signers be read.
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