American Founding Fathers
Name↕ | State↕ | Lifespan↕ | Primary Role↕ | Known For↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
George Washington | Virginia | 1732-1799 | Commander, 1st President | Led Continental Army, chaired Constitutional Convention, set two-term precedent |
Thomas Jefferson | Virginia | 1743-1826 | 3rd President | Drafted Declaration of Independence, Louisiana Purchase, founded University of Virginia |
Benjamin Franklin | Pennsylvania | 1706-1790 | Diplomat, Inventor | Secured French alliance, signed all four founding documents, bifocals and lightning rod |
John Adams | Massachusetts | 1735-1826 | 2nd President | Defended British soldiers after Boston Massacre, Treaty of Paris negotiator, died same day as Jefferson |
Alexander Hamilton | New York | 1755-1804 | 1st Treasury Secretary | Built US financial system, Federalist Papers, killed in duel by Aaron Burr |
James Madison | Virginia | 1751-1836 | 4th President | Father of the Constitution, wrote Bill of Rights, led US through War of 1812 |
John Jay | New York | 1745-1829 | 1st Chief Justice | Co-authored Federalist Papers, Jay Treaty with Britain, abolitionist governor of NY |
Samuel Adams | Massachusetts | 1722-1803 | Revolutionary Organizer | Sons of Liberty leader, organized Boston Tea Party, cousin of John Adams |
John Hancock | Massachusetts | 1737-1793 | President of Congress | Enormous signature on Declaration, wealthy merchant, first to sign |
Patrick Henry | Virginia | 1736-1799 | Orator, Governor | Give me liberty or give me death speech, Anti-Federalist, 1st governor of Virginia |
Thomas Paine | Pennsylvania | 1737-1809 | Pamphleteer | Wrote Common Sense and The American Crisis, radical republican, died in obscurity |
George Mason | Virginia | 1725-1792 | Delegate | Virginia Declaration of Rights, refused to sign Constitution over slavery and rights |
Roger Sherman | Connecticut | 1721-1793 | Delegate | Only man to sign all four founding documents, Connecticut Compromise architect |
Gouverneur Morris | Pennsylvania | 1752-1816 | Delegate | Wrote final draft of Constitution, penned We the People preamble, wooden leg |
James Wilson | Pennsylvania | 1742-1798 | Supreme Court Justice | Signed both Declaration and Constitution, legal theorist, died in debtors' confinement |
Robert Morris | Pennsylvania | 1734-1806 | Financier | Financed the Revolution, signed all three key documents, later imprisoned for debt |
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