This Is How Old America's Founders Were . . .

The leaders who shaped the United States during the American Revolution came from a wide range of ages. Some were seasoned statesmen with decades of political experience, while others were ambitious young leaders just beginning their public careers. 

At the time the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776, their ages reflected this diversity:

• Benjamin Franklin — 70 years old
• George Washington — 44 years old
• Thomas Jefferson — 33 years old
• John Adams — 40 years old
• Alexander Hamilton — 21 years old
• James Madison — 25 years old
• John Hancock — 39 years old
• Samuel Adams — 53 years old
• Patrick Henry — 40 years old
• Thomas Paine — 39 years old
• John Jay — 30 years old
• Gouverneur Morris — 24 years old
• Charles Carroll of Carrollton — 38 years old
• James Monroe — 18 years old

John Marshall — 20 years old

Aaron Burr — 20 years old

These ages show that the American Revolution was led by a blend of youth and experience. While veterans like Benjamin Franklin brought wisdom and diplomatic skill, younger leaders such as Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Gouverneur Morris, and Alexander Hamilton contributed fresh ideas that would shape the nation’s founding documents and institutions for generations.

pastellaburns also added:

And they could read and write in Greek and Latin, were proficient in mathematics, were scholars of ancient history, studied the law, were trained orators (some of them), owned businesses etc. The men of 1776 were a few steps above the “men” of today on nearly everything.

Pictures with ages:

1. Who's the only US President who's first language was not English?



Martin Van Buren - 8th President - He was born in NYC to Dutch parents who immigrated there when NYC was a Dutch colony called New Amsterdam

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