Did you know?

Names like John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and, of course, John Hancock might instantly come to mind when pondering the men who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776. But what about the remaining signatories to the founding document of the United States? According to the National Archives, 56 men signed the Declaration of Independence, and even historians and armchair history buffs might be hard pressed to name all 56 signers of the pivotal document. Some might even be surprised to learn that various notable figures from the era were not among the 56 signers on the Declaration of Independence, a list that includes Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and George Washington. George Mason, another influential figure of the era, also decided against signing the Declaration of Independence, citing its lack of a "Bill of Rights" as motivation for keeping his pen to himself.