Some people wanted him to be "King" and the United States to be a monarchy.
That was malarkey. So they made him president number one.
Some people wanted him to be "King" and the United States to be a monarchy.
That was malarkey. So they made him president number one.
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...
Assembly Room in Independence Hall, Philadelphia,
site of the signing of the Constitution in 1787.
Photo courtesy of Independence National Historical Park.
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. You can also read a general
biographical overview of the delegates.
For a short 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)
Connecticut
Ellsworth (Elsworth), Oliver*
Johnson, William S.
Sherman, Roger
Delaware
Bassett (Basset), Richard
Bedford, Gunning, Jr.
Broom, Jacob
Dickinson, John
Read, George
Georgia
Baldwin, Abraham
Few, William
Houstoun, William*
Pierce, William L.*
Maryland
Carroll, Daniel
Jenifer, Daniel of St. Thomas
Martin, Luther*
McHenry, James
Mercer, John F.*
Massachusetts
Gerry, Elbridge*
Gorham, Nathaniel
King, Rufus
Strong, Caleb*
New
Hampshire
Gilman, Nicholas
Langdon, John
New
Jersey
Brearly (Brearley), David
Dayton, Jonathan
Houston, William C.*
Livingston, William
Paterson (Patterson), William
New York
Hamilton, Alexander
Lansing, John, Jr.*
Yates, Robert *
North
Carolina
Blount, William
Davie, William R.*
Martin, Alexander *
Spaight, Richard D.
Williamson, Hugh
Pennsylvania
Clymer, George
Fitzsimons (FitzSimons; Fitzsimmons), Thomas
Franklin, Benjamin
Ingersoll, Jared
Mifflin, Thomas
Morris, Gouverneur
Morris, Robert
Wilson, James
South
Carolina
Butler, Pierce
Pinckney, Charles
Pinckney, Charles Cotesworth
Rutledge, John
Rhode Island
Rhode Island did not send any delegates to the Constitutional Convention.
Virginia
Blair, John
Madison, James
Mason, George *
McClurg, James*
Randolph, Edmund J.*
Washington, George
Wythe, George*
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