Biographical Index of America

...it is expedient that on the second Monday in May next a Convention of delegates who shall have been appointed by the several States be held at Philadelphia for the sole and express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation...

The original states, except Rhode Island, collectively appointed 70 individuals to the Constitutional Convention, but a number did not accept or could not attend. Those who did not attend included Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Samuel Adams and, John Hancock.

In all, 55 delegates attended the Constitutional Convention sessions, but only 39 actually signed the Constitution. The delegates ranged in age from Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, to Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, who was so infirm that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair.

For brief biographies of each of the Founding Fathers who were delegates to the Constitutional Convention, select the names or the states below.

(* indicates delegates who did not sign the Constitution)

Connecticut William. Samuel Johnson Roger Sherman Oliver Ellsworth (Elsworth)*	Delaware George Read Gunning Bedford, Jr. John Dickinson Richard Bassett Jacob Broom

Georgia William Few Abraham Baldwin William Houston* William L. Pierce*	Maryland James McHenry Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Daniel Carroll Luther Martin* John F. Mercer*

Massachusetts Nathaniel Gorham Rufus King Elbridge Gerry* Caleb Strong*	New Hampshire John Langdon Nicholas Gilman

New Jersey William Livingston David Brearly (Brearley) William Paterson (Patterson) Jonathan Dayton William C. Houston*	New York Alexander Hamilton John Lansing, Jr.* Robert Yates*

North Carolina William. Blount Richard. Dobbs Spaight Hugh Williamson William R. Davie* Alexander Martin*	Pennsylvania Benjamin Franklin Thomas Mifflin Robert Morris George Clymer Thomas Fitzsimons (FitzSimons; Fitzsimmons) Jared Ingersoll James Wilson Gouverneur Morris

South Carolina John Rutledge Charles Cotesworth Pinckney Charles Pinckney Pierce Butler	Rhode Island Rhode Island did not send any delegates to the Constitutional Convention.

Virginia John Blair James Madison Jr. George Washington George Mason* James McClurg* Edmund J. Randolph* George Wythe*

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