Did Benjamin Franklin sign the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, both, or neither?

Benjamin Franklin holds the rare distinction of having placed his signature on both of the United States' foundational documents. In 1776, at the age of 70, he was not only a signatory to the Declaration of Independence but also a member of the "Committee of Five" that drafted it. Understanding the grave risk involved, he famously quipped to his fellow delegates, "We must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately," highlighting the life-or-death commitment they were making.

Eleven years later, a frail but determined Franklin served as the oldest delegate at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. At 81, his role was less that of a fiery debater and more of a venerable elder statesman. He used his immense prestige and wisdom to soothe tensions and encourage compromise among the delegates, ultimately adding his name to the Constitution as well. His presence at both pivotal moments underscores his remarkable and enduring service to the nation's creation. He is the only Founding Father to have signed all four of the key establishing documents, including the Treaty of Paris and the Treaty of Alliance with France.