America 250: 7 important dates for the Declaration of Independence
6. Most of the founders sign the Declaration of Independence — Aug. 2, 1776
While popular cultural imagery of the Declaration of Independence has all the founders signing the document on the Fourth of July, in reality, the famed signatures came weeks later.
According to the National Archives, when the initial declaration was issued, the only signatures present were those of the President of Congress, John Hancock and the Secretary, Charles Thomson.
The majority of the signatures were added on Aug. 2 to an engrossed copy, in which Hancock inscribed his famously large signature, with Continental Congress members adding their names afterward.
“The other delegates, following custom, signed beginning at the right with the signatures arranged by states from northernmost New Hampshire to southernmost Georgia,” noted the Archives.
“Although all delegates were not present on August 2nd, 56 delegates eventually signed the document. Late signers were Elbridge Gerry, Oliver Wolcott, Lewis Morris, Thomas McKean, and Matthew Thornton, who was unable to place his signature with the other New Hampshire delegates due to a lack of space.”
