Who Was There?
The state legislatures of each state selected the delegates who would attend the convention. There was no limit on the number of delegates a state could send, but each state would vote as a delegation, not as individual delegates. Rhode Island did not send any delegates to the Convention. While seventy delegates were appointed to attend, only fifty-five did.
The delegates to the convention included lawyers (thirty-four had studied law), soldiers (twenty-one fought in the Revolutionary War), farmers, educators, ministers, doctors, bankers and merchants. Forty had been members of the Continental Congress and two others would later become members of the Congress of the United States. The average age of the delegates was about 44.
Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, was serving as the American Minister to France at the time and did not participate in the Constitutional Convention.
The following is a list of those that attended the convention and if they were a signer of the Constitution.
| NAME | STATE | Signed the Constitution | COMMENTS |
| Baldwin, Abraham Minister/Lawyer | GA | Y | Helped resolved the large/small state representation crisis. |
| Bassett, Richard Lawyer/Farmer | DE | Y | Attended diligently, did not take any major steps at the convention. |
| Bedford, Gunning, Jr. Lawyer | DE | Y | A more active member of the convention. Member of the committee that drafted the Great Compromise. |
| Blair, John Lawyer | VA | Y | Helped ratified the Constitution. |
| Blount, William Major Land Speculator/ Public Official | NC | Y | Signed the Constitution only to make it “the unanimous act of the states in convention.” |
| Brearly, David Lawyer | NJ | Y | Attended regularly. Opposed proportional representation and liked 1 vote in Congress. Chaired the Committee on Postponed Matters. |
| Broom, Jacob Real Estate/Mercantile | DE | Y | Never missed a session, only played a minor role at the Convention. |
| Butler, Pierce Military/Planter | SC | Y | One of the most aristocratic delegates. Outspoken nationalist key spokesman for the Madison-Wilson caucus. Supported southern slaveholders interests. |
| Carroll, Daniel Gentleman Planter | MD | Y | Served on the Committee on Postponed Matters. Campaigned in Maryland for ratification. |
| Clymer, George Merchant | PA | Y | Rarely missed a meeting. Played a modest role in shaping the final document. |
| Davie, William R. Lawyer | NC | N | He swung the NC delegates in favor of the Great Compromise. Fought hard for ratification. |
| Dayton, Jonathan Businessman/Major Land Speculator | NJ | Y | Only 26 years old, the youngest delegate present. Objected to some provisions of the Constitution. |
| Dickinson, John Lawyer | DE | Y | Voted against the Declaration of Independence, and refused to sign it. Did not actually sign the Constitution, because of illness, but authorized George Read to do so for him. |
| Ellsworth, Oliver Lawyer | CT | N | Amended to change the word “national” to “United States” to designate the government. 1 of 5 that prepared 1st draft of the Constitution. |
| Few, William Lawyer | GA | Y | Contributed Nationalist votes at critical times. Helped approved sending the Constitution to the states for ratification. |
| Fitzsimons, Thomas West India Trade/Major Land Speculator | PA | Y | A strong nationalist and attended regularly. No outstanding contributions |
| Franklin, Benjamin Printer/Scientist | PA | Y | “Sage of the Constitutional Convention.” He was on the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence. At 81, he was the oldest delegate at the Convention |
| Gerry, Elbridge Merchant/Shipper | MA | N | One of the most vocal delegates. Rejected and refused to sign the Constitution because it lacked the Bill of Rights. Vocal against ratifying the Constitution. In 1789 announced intention to support the Constitution |
| Gilman, Nicholas Businessman | NH | Y | Arrived July 21, 1787. Served on Committee on Postponed Matters. Was Active in ratification and shepherding the Constitution through the Continental Congress. |
| Gorham, Nathaniel Businessman/Major Land Speculator | MA | Y | Attended all of the sessions. Chairman of the Committee of the Whole. Played an influential role. |
| Hamilton, Alexander Lawyer/Public Servant | NY | Y | Urged the calling of the Constitution Convention. Frequently absent on legal business. Was the only one from New York to sign. Played a substantial part in ratifying the Constitution in New York. |
| Houston, William C. Professor of Math | NJ | N | Only attended one week. Illness forced him to leave the convention. Did not sign the Constitution, but endorsed it. |
| Houstoun, William ? | GA | N | Was only in attendance July 1 – July 23. He split Georgia’s vote on equal representation in the senate voting “nay.” |
| Ingersoll, Jared Lawyer | PA | Y | Favored revisions of the Articles of Confederation. Attended all sessions |
| Jenifer, Daniel ? | MD | Y | Backed Madison and the nationalist element |
| Johnson, William S. Lawyer | CT | Y | In the 1785-87 Continental Congress was one of the most popular and influential delegates. Attended all sessions at the Constitutional Convention after June 2, 1787. |
| King, Rufus Lawyer | MA | Y | Attended all sessions. Leading Figure in the nationalist caucus. Considered one of the most important speakers at the convention. |
| Langdon, John Mercantile Business | NH | Y | Arrived late July and spoke 20+ times. Member of the committee that compromised slavery. Paid for his and Gilman’s way. NH would not pay for the trip. |
| Lansing, John, Jr. Lawyer | NY | N | Left the convention with Robert Yates, because of abolishing, not amending, the Articles of Confederations. |
| Livingston, William Lawyer | NJ | Y | Gubernatorial duties kept him from attending every session. Did vital committee work, i.e. the compromise on the slavery issue. |
| Madison, James Pubic Servant | VA | Y | “Father of the Constitution.” Spoke more than 150 times, 3rd most speaker. Clearly preeminent figure at the convention. Key role in the ratification of the Constitution. |
| Martin, Alexander Merchant/Public Servant | NC | N | Left in late August. Good politician but not a good debater. Least strongly Federalist from NC. |
| Martin, Luther Lawyer | MD | N | Spoke for more than 3 hours against the Virginia Plan. Supported equal number of delegates in at least one house. Walked out with John Mercer before the convention closed. |
| Mason, George Richest Planter in VA | VA | N | One of the five most frequent speakers. During last two weeks decided not to sign because of the absence of a declaration of rights. |
| McClurg, James Physician | VA | N | Strong supporter of a strong independent national government. Left in August. |
| McHenry, James Doctor/Politician | MD | Y | Missed most of the convention because of a brother’s illness. Campaigned strongly to ratify the Constitution in MD. |
| Mercer, John F. ? | MD | N | Second youngest delegate at 28 years old. Spoke and voted against the Constitution. Walked out with Luther Martin before the convention closed. |
| Mifflin, Thomas Merchant | PA | Y | Attended regularly. No substantial roles |
| Morris, Gouverneur Lawyer | PA | Y | One of the leading figures at the convention. Gave 173 speeches. A strong advocate of nationalism and aristocratic rule. Drafted the Constitution. |
| Morris, Robert International Banker/ Merchant/ Major Land Speculator | PA | Y | Attended practically all of the meetings. Mostly silent during the convention. |
| Patterson, William Merchant | NJ | Y | Co-authored the New Jersey or Paterson Plan. He left a some point and only returned to sign the final document. |
| Pierce, William L. Merchant (Import/Export) | GA | N | Participated in 3 debates. Approved the Constitution, but had to leave due to a decline in European rice market. |
| Pinckney, Charles Lawyer/Well to do Family | SC | Y | Attended the full time. Spoke often and effectively, contributed immensely to final draft and resolving problems. Worked on the ratification in SC. |
| Pinckney, Charles C. Lawyer | SC | Y | Alltended all sessions. Strong advocate of a powerful national government. Exerted influence in the power of the Senate to ratify treaties and the compromise of international slave trade. |
| Randolph, Edmund J. Public Servant | VA | N | Presented the Virgina Plan. Sat on the committee that drafted the Constitution. Declined to sign because it was not sufficiently republican. |
| Read, George Lawyer | DE | Y | Championed the rights of the small states. Voted against the Declaration of Independence, but signed the Constitution. Led ratification movement in Delaware, the first state to ratify. |
| Rutledge, John Lawyer | SC | Y | One of the most influential delegates. Attended all sessions. Spoke and often and effectively. Served on five committees. Maintained a moderate nationalist stance. |
| Sherman, Roger Lawyer/Merchant | CT | Y | Attended practically all sessions. Prime mover behind the Great Compromise. Worked on ratification in CT. |
| Spaight, Richard D. Public Servant | NC | Y | Spoke on several occasions. Attended all sessions. Worked on ratification in NC. |
| Strong, Caleb Lawyer | MA | N | Favored a strong central government. Voted in favor of equal numbers in the Senate and proportional in the House. Had to leave early because of family illness, was not able to sign. Campaigned strongly for ratification in MA. |
| Washington, George Military-Commander in Chief | VA | Y | His presence was instrumental in bring many delegates to the Convention. He was unanimously selected as President of the Convention. |
| Williamson, Hugh Doctor/Scientist | NC | Y | Friends with Benjamin Franklin. Played a significant role in the Great Compromise. |
| Wilson, James Lawyer/Major Land Speculator | PA | Y | Influence at the Constitution was probably 2nd to Madison. Gave 2nd most speeches. |
| Wythe, George Lawyer | VA | N | Left early and offered the resolution for ratification in Virginia. |
| Yates, Robert Lawyer | NY | N | Left the convention with John Lansing Jr., because of abolishing, not amending, the Articles of Confederations. |
*Rhode Island did not send any delegates to the Constitutional Convention.
