Q:
Who Was the First to Sign the Declaration of Independence?
A:
Quick Answer
As the President of the Continental Congress, John Hancock of Massachusetts was the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence on Aug. 2, 1776. The last person to sign the document was Thomas Kean of Delaware, and it is believed he signed after January 1777.
Continue ReadingFull Answer
The other signers did so with their state delegations. The signatures were placed in five columns, beginning in the upper-right corner with signers from the northernmost state, New Hampshire, and ending with the signatures from the southernmost state, Georgia. The Declaration of Independence was drafted by Thomas Jefferson and edited by Benjamin Franklin with John Adams. The final document was written by Jefferson as he incorporated the edits of Adams and Franklin.
Learn more about US HistorySources:
Related Questions
-
Q:
When Did the 13 Colonies Gain Their Independence?
A: The 13 colonies declared their independence in 1776 during the American Revolutionary War, with the Declaration of Independence. This document proclaimed t... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What Is the Significance of Independence Day?
A: America's Independence Day is celebrated on July 4 because this is the anniversary of the day that members of the Continental Congress agreed to the final ... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What Are Some Facts About the Declaration of Independence?
A: Approved by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence declared the 13 American colonies independent from England. Independe... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What Information Is Found on a Timeline of Richard Henry Lee's Life?
A: Richard Henry Lee was a member of the Continental Congress and the author of the Westmoreland Resolution against the 1765 Stamp Act and the 1776 Resolution... Full Answer >Filed Under:
