Monday, September 29, 2008

Which delegates did not sign the Declaration of Independence?

Only thirty-nine people signed the finished product of the Constitutional Convention. In all, seventy-four people were selected to attend the Convention, but only fifty-five actually attended. Some of these left before the Convention was complete, some for personal reasons, some to protest the Constitution. Others remained at the Convention until the end, but then refused to sign. The following is a list of those delegates who attended the Convention but who did not sign the Constitution, and the reason they did not sign:

* Connecticut - Oliver Ellsworth (left early)

* Georgia - William Houstoun (left early), William Pierce (left early)

* Maryland - Luther Martin (left in protest), John Mercer (left in protest)

* Massachusetts - Elbridge Gerry (refused to sign), Caleb Strong (left early)

* New Jersey - William Houston (left early)

* New York - John Lansing (left in protest), Robert Yates (left in protest)

* North Carolina - William Davie (left early), Alexander Martin (left early)

* Rhode Island - sent no delegates

* Virginia - George Mason (refused to sign), James McClurg (left early), Edmund Randolph (refused to sign), George Wythe (left early)

The following are those who refused to attend or were unable to attend:

* Connecticut - Erastus Wolcott

* Georgia - Nathaniel Pendleton, George Walton

* Maryland - Charles Caroll, Gabriel Duvall, Robert Hanson Harrison, Thomas Sire Lee, Thomas Stone

* Massachusetts - Francis Dana

* New Hampshire - John Pickering, Benjamin West

* New Jersey - Abraham Clark, John Neilson

* North Carolina - Richard Caswell, Willie Jones

* South Carolina - Henry Laurens

* Virginia - Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Nelson

It should be noted that John Dickinson is officially listed as a "signer," but he did not actually sign the Constitution. Dickinson fell ill during the convention and was unable to attend on the day of signing. He authorized George Read to sign for him by proxy.


Source:  Wiki Answers


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