At the Constitutional Convention of 1787 in Philadelphia, 55 delegates attended at least part of the proceedings, although only 39 ultimately signed the finished Constitution.

Quick Scoop

  • Total delegates who actually showed up: 55 attended at some point during the convention.
  • Delegates who signed the Constitution: 39 put their names on the final document on September 17, 1787.
  • Delegates originally appointed: 70 men were appointed by the states, but several never appeared or left early, which is why only 55 attended.
  • States represented: 12 of the 13 states sent delegates; Rhode Island refused to participate and sent none.

In forum-style debates, people sometimes quote “39 framers” or “70 appointed delegates,” but the clearest answer to “how many delegates attended the Constitutional Convention?” is that 55 delegates attended the convention sessions in Philadelphia in 1787.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.