The Amazing Maturity of the Young Declaration Signers
The great things they did at such young ages put us to shame.
When we think of Independence Day and the men who affixed their signatures to the Declaration of Independence, it’s easy to lump them all together as wizened old men.
But while some – such as 70-year-old Benjamin Franklin – were certainly getting up in age, many others were remarkably young. Consider the following list of signers. In 1776, the year the Declaration was signed:
George Walton (Georgia), John Penn (North Carolina), and Samuel Chase (Maryland) were 35.
Arthur Middleton (South Carolina), James Wilson (Pennsylvania), and William Hooper (North Carolina) were 34.
Thomas Jefferson (Virginia) and Thomas Stone (Maryland) were 33.
Elbridge Gerry (Massachusetts) was 32.
Benjamin Rush (Pennsylvania) was 31.
Thomas Heyward Jr. (South Carolina) was 30.
Thomas Lynch Jr. (South Carolina) was 27.
And Edward Rutledge (South Carolina) was a mere 26 years old!
Perhaps even more remarkable than the young ages of these signers is the young age at which many of them began what we today consider “adult life.” A number of signers entered prestigious colleges such as Harvard between the ages of 13 and 16, including John Hancock, Samuel Adams, William Ellery, Robert Treat Pain, and Elbridge Gerry. Still others, such as George Ross, John Penn, Benjamin Rush, and William Whipple, were already beginning their careers as businessmen, lawyers, and doctors by the time many modern young people are just finishing their undergrad years.
Today’s young people have become known for their inability to grow up. Marriage, childbirth, jobs, and education are increasingly prolonged and young adults are even having trouble leaving their childhood doctors until their mid-thirties.
When compared to the depth of knowledge, the staggering responsibility, and the pain and difficulty the young Founders experienced, modern America’s inability to grow up can seem a bit pathetic. Are we expecting too little of the next generation in education, morality, and personal responsibility?
—
This article was originally published on Intellectual Takeout and is republished under a creative commons license.
Image Credit: {PD-US}
This is a great article. It is so true. I married at 19 and had 3 children immediately and 2 more in our early thirties. My husband and I learned as we grew up (on the job, so to speak). It was wonderful. Sometimes hard, sometimes so much fun we could not believe it! Taking responsibility for yourself is empowering. Being married is marvelous. Having children is one of the most gratifying and most challenging things a person can do. But delaying and delaying, saying you don't want to have the responsibility yet, is so wrong. You never reach your full potential until quit playing around and start taking up your place in the world.
I see this in my own grandchildren. They are wonderful people, but they are very slow to "grow up" and they are content with that. Only time will tell if they are right. To me it looks like they are missing a lot of meaning in their lives. But I have to trust that they are doing the right thing for themselves. I pray that they are.
ANNIE! I cannot find a contact for you - I loved yo ur Epoch Times article on Juan Comacho. You mentioned his type of bees ("Italian bees, a friendlier breed") - but no specifics. Is there a way to contact Juan or to find out more about this? Sorry for using this method but I know no other. THANK YOU!