Most of the Founding Fathers of the United States were much younger than commonly thought, with the average age of the signers of the Declaration of Independence being around 44 years old in 1776.

Ages of Key Founding Fathers

• George Washington was 43 when he became commander of the Army.

• Thomas Jefferson was 33 when he wrote the Declaration of Independence.

• John Adams was 40 during key arguments for independence.

• Alexander Hamilton was 21 when the war started.

• Benjamin Franklin was the oldest signer at 70.

• Many others, such as James Madison (25), John Hancock (39), and Charles Pinckney (26), were quite young.

Overview Table

Name| Age in 1776 2346
---|---
George Washington| 43
Thomas Jefferson| 33
John Adams| 40
Benjamin Franklin| 70
James Madison| 25
Alexander Hamilton| 21
John Hancock| 39
Charles Pinckney| 26
Thomas Lynch Jr.| 26

Age Range Breakdown

• The youngest signers were 26, and about a dozen signers were aged 35 or younger.

• Most were in their 30s or 40s, and only a few were above 60.

• The perception of the Founders as elderly men is inaccurate; most were energetic young adults at the time of independence.

In short, the Founding Fathers were mostly in their 30s and 40s when founding the United States, with a few notable exceptions both much younger and older.