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America's Founding Documents
Meet the Framers of the Constitution
The original states, except Rhode Island, collectively appointed 70 individuals to the Constitutional Convention. A number of these individuals did not accept or could not attend, including 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 infirmed that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair.
Biographical Index of the Framers of the Constitution
For brief biographies of each of the Founding Fathers who were delegates to the Constitutional Convention, select the names or the states below. (* indicates delegates who did not sign the Constitution)
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New Jersey
- David Brearly (Brearley)
- Jonathan Dayton
- William C. Houston*
- William Livingston
- William Paterson (Patterson)
New York
North Carolina
Pennsylvania
- George Clymer
- Thomas Fitzsimons (FitzSimons; Fitzsimmons)
- Benjamin Franklin
- Jared Ingersoll
- Thomas Mifflin
- Gouverneur Morris
- Robert Morris
- James Wilson
Rhode Island
Rhode Island did not send any delegates to the Constitutional Convention.
South Carolina
Virginia