The Signatures
At the bottom of the Declaration of Independence there are 56 signatures. Out of the 56 signatures only four out of the five authors of the Declaration of Independence signed this document. Robert Livingston never signed because he thought it was too soon to declare independence. John Hancock was the first to sign because he was the President of the Congress, his name is the largest signature compared to the rest of the signatures. The other signatures are signed by state delegators. State delegators are the representatives of the 13 Colonies. The Second Continental Congress did not have the formal signing of the Declaration of Independence until August 2, 1776 which was almost a month after the final draft was created. The signing was done in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the Pennsylvania State House also known as Independence Hall. Today the Declaration of Independence is displayed at The National Archives in Washington, D.C. where the public can visit the display. Below is an image of each of the 56 delegators that signed the Declaration of Independence.