Firsts
He was the first Commander in Chief of the military.
George Washington
He died on the same day as Thomas Jefferson at 90 years old.
John Adams
He served 21 years (!!!) as governor of New York and was elected Vice President to Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.
George Clinton
He was the oldest Founding Father at 70, and was the only founding father to sign the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution AND the Treaty of Paris.
Benjamin Franklin
He is perhaps best remembered for introducing the Virginia Plan to the Constitutional Convention, which was Primarily written by James Madison.
Edmund Randolph
He wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence.
Thomas Jefferson
He was unanimously voted the President of the Continental Congress in 1775. (also well known for his signature)
John Hancock
He was the 39th governor of South Carolina, and was the youngest to sign the Declaration of Independence.
Edward Rutledge
He was only 5 feet 4 inches tall, making him out shortest president. (compared to our tallest, Abe Lincoln at 6'4")
James Madison
Having held many offices in Connecticut, a small state, he promoted what came to be known as the Connecticut (or Great) Compromise, providing a bicameral legislature using a dual system of representation.
Roger Sherman
He was the first Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court.
John Jay
This delegate from Pennsylvania wrote olive branch petitions to Britain because he still hoped for a peaceful solution with the British. Because of this he was known as the penman of the revolution.
John Dickinson
Was impeached in 1804, but was not removed and resumed his duties as an associate justice on the supreme court until he died.
Samuel Chase
He wrote 51 out of the 85 Federalist Papers. (Thats 60%!!)
Alexander Hamilton
He wrote the preamble of the constitution (known as the penman of the Constitution) and had a peg leg.
Gouverneur Morris
He introduced the motion to declare independence and was the first President Pro Tempore.
Richard Henry Lee
He served as one of the original associate justices of the Supreme Court and the second chief justice of the United States
John Rutledge
His final public post was serving as the Chief Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court.
George Read
Often chosen as rebellious colonists' spokesperson, and sometimes referred to as the father of the revolution, he was passionate about American independence.
Samuel Adams
Being upset with the Federalist Party's opposition to President Madison's foreign policy, he approved a controversial redistricting plan designed to give the Republican Party an advantage in the state senatorial elections. (the first instance of Gerrymandering)
Elbridge Gerry
He introduced the New Jersey Plan to appeal to small states.
William Paterson
This delegate was elected by the Continental Congress “President of the United States in Congress Assembled" in 1780. (sometimes referred to as the first president)
John Hanson
He was a justice of the Supreme Court and was one of only six people to sign both the Declaration of Independence, and the U.S. Constitution.
James Wilson
He was an American merchant and banker who came to be known as the financier of the American Revolution.
Robert Morris
The US Bill of Rights was drawn from the Virginia Declaration of Rights which he wrote.
George Mason