56 men signed the Declaration of Independence.
This historic document, adopted on July 4, 1776, was endorsed by delegates from the 13 colonies, all of whom were men.

Key Facts

  • The total number of signers was 56 , representing a diverse group from lawyers and merchants to farmers and physicians.
  • Signing began on August 2, 1776, after the initial adoption, with some delegates like Matthew Thornton adding their names later.
  • No women signed it, as the Continental Congress delegates were exclusively male in that era.

Notable Signers

Familiar names include John Hancock (Massachusetts, with the largest signature), Thomas Jefferson (Virginia, primary author), Benjamin Franklin (Pennsylvania, oldest at 70), and John Adams (Massachusetts).

The youngest was Edward Rutledge of South Carolina at 26.

These men risked treason charges by signing, knowing it could mean execution.

Breakdown by Colony

Here's how the 56 signers were distributed across the 13 colonies:

Colony| Number of Signers
---|---
Massachusetts| 5
New Hampshire| 3
Rhode Island| 2
Connecticut| 4
New York| 4
New Jersey| 5
Pennsylvania| 8
Delaware| 3
Maryland| 4
Virginia| 7
North Carolina| 3
South Carolina| 4
Georgia| 3
Total| 56

Historical Context

These signers weren't all present on July 4; about 34 signed that day, with others joining later as new delegates arrived.

Many faced hardships—one-third served as militia officers, and nine died before the Revolution ended in 1783.

In today's discussions, like Reddit threads, people geek out over quirky names like Button Gwinnett or Caesar Rodney, sparking fun naming debates.

TL;DR: Exactly 56 men signed it—all male delegates from the colonies.

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