History: The Founding Fathers
Delegates to the Constitutional Convention
On February 21, 1787, the Continental Congress resolved that:
...it is expedient that on the second Monday in May next a Convention of delegates who shall have been appointed by the several States be held at Philladelphia for the sole and express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation...
The original states, except Rhode Island, collectively appointed 70 individuals to the Constitutional Convention, but a number did not accept or could not attend. Those who did not attend included Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Samuel Adams and, John Hancock.
In all, 55 delegates attended the Constitutional Convention sessions, but only 39 actually signed the Constitution. The delegates ranged in age from Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, to Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, who was so infirm that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair.
Biographical Index of America's Founding Fathers
* indicates delegates who did not sign the Constitution
Connecticut
Delaware
Georgia
Maryland
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New Jersey
- William Livingston
- David Brearly (Brearley)
- William Paterson (Patterson)
- Jonathan Dayton
- William C. Houston*
New York
North Carolina
Pennsylvania
- Benjamin Franklin
- Thomas Mifflin
- Robert Morris
- George Clymer
- Thomas Fitzsimons (FitzSimons; Fitzsimmons)
- Jared Ingersoll
- James Wilson
- Gouverneur Morris
Rhode Island
Rhode Island did not send any delegates to the Constitutional Convention.
South Carolina
Virginia
