Iowa News

Signers of the Declaration of Independence.--Of the fifty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence, it is stated that nine were born in Massachusetts; eight in Virginia; five in Maryland; four in Connecticut; four in New Jersey; four in Pennsylvania; four in South Carolina; three in New York; three in Delaware; two in Rhode Island; one in Maine; three in Ireland; two in England; two in Scotland; and one in Wales.

Twenty-one were attorneys, ten merchants, four physicians, three farmers, one clergyman, one printer, and sixteen were men of fortune.

Eight were graduates of Harvard College: four of Yale, three of New Jersey; two of Philadelphia; two of William & Mary, three of Cambridge, England; two of Edinburgh: and one of St. Andrews.

At the time of their deaths, five were over ninety years of age; seven between eighty and ninety; eleven between seventy and eighty: twelve between sixty and seventy; eleven between fifty and sixty; seven between forty and fifty; one died at the age of twenty-seven; and the age of two is uncertain.

At the time of signing the Declaration of Independence, the average age of the members was forty-four years. They lived to the average age of more than sixty-five years and ten months.. The youngest member was Edward Rutledge of South Carolina, who was in his twenty-seventh year. He lived to the age of fifty-one, The next youngest member was Thos. Lynch, of the same state, who was also in his twenty-seventh year. He was cast away at sea in the fall of seventeen hundred and seventy-six.

Benjamin Franklin was the oldest member. He was in his seventy-first year when he signed the Declaration. He lived to 1790, and survived sixteen of his younger brethren. Stephen Hopkins of Rhode Island, the next oldest member, was born in 1707, and died 1785.

Charles Carroll attained the greatest age, dying in his ninety-sixth year. Wm. Ellery, of Rhode Island, died in his ninety-third year, and John Adams in his ninety-first.