Thirty-nine individuals signed the U.S. Constitution.

This historic event took place on September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia's Independence Hall, marking the culmination of the Constitutional Convention. Out of 70 delegates originally chosen from 12 states—Rhode Island boycotted—only 55 attended at various points, with no more than 46 present simultaneously. Ultimately, 39 delegates affixed their signatures, while three key figures (George Mason, Edmund Randolph, and Elbridge Gerry) refused due to objections over lacking a Bill of Rights, and others like John Dickinson signed via proxy through George Read.

Key Facts on Delegates and Signing

  • Total attendees : 55 delegates from 12 states.
  • Signers : 39, including George Washington (president of the convention, signed first), Benjamin Franklin (oldest at 81), and Jonathan Dayton (youngest at 26).
  • Non-signers among attendees : 16, including the three vocal dissenters; 13 had already left early.
  • Proxy and extra signatures : John Dickinson's name was added by proxy; secretary William Jackson signed to authenticate corrections.
  • State representation : All signers hailed from the attending states, with most having Revolutionary War experience—29 served in Continental forces.

Imagine the tension in that sweltering room: Washington signing boldly on the right margin, delegates squeezing into columns as space ran out, all while Anti-Federalist concerns loomed large. This wasn't unanimous acclaim but a pragmatic compromise that shaped the world's oldest written national constitution still in use.

Who Were the Signers?

Here's a partial list by state, highlighting diversity from native colonists to immigrants (e.g., from Ireland, Scotland, England):

State| Notable Signers
---|---
Connecticut| William Samuel Johnson, Roger Sherman
Delaware| Gunning Bedford Jr., George Read
Georgia| Abraham Baldwin, William Few
Maryland| Daniel Carroll, Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer 6

(Full rosters are preserved at the National Archives; all but seven signers were U.S.-born.)

Why Not Everyone Signed

Debates raged over federal power versus states' rights. George Mason argued for explicit protections against tyranny, foreshadowing the Bill of Rights. Edmund Randolph , who proposed the Virginia Plan, balked at rushing ratification. Elbridge Gerry feared the document empowered elites over common folk. Their stance fueled Anti-Federalist pamphlets, pressuring eventual amendments in 1791.

Recent discussions (as of 2025) on forums and sites like Britannica revisit these numbers amid Constitution Day hype, confirming the 39 tally amid viral history quizzes—no major disputes or "lost signers" myths hold up.

TL;DR : Exactly 39 delegates signed the U.S. Constitution in 1787, from 55 attendees; refusals sparked the Bill of Rights push.

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