05/29/2026
Our Country's 250th Anniversary!
In 1776, the Declaration of Independence would be signed by 56 brave representatives from the colonies. Seven of the representatives, were from the state of Virginia. Keep in mind, all these men were putting their lives and property on the line for our country’s freedom.
Signers from Virginia were:
Carter Braxton - helped finance the Revolution with his own money
Benjamin Harrison - became the 5th Governor of Virginia
Thomas Jefferson - Chief Composer of the Declaration of Independence
Francis Lightfoot Lee - Became a Senator of Virginia
Richard Henry Lee - Served as a Virginia Senator
Thomas Nelson Jr. - helped fund the Revolution and became Governor of Virginia
George Wythe - Wythe County and Wytheville were named for George Wythe
On July 2, 1776, Congress passed the resolution calling for independence.
The formal declaration was adopted on July 4, 1776.
On July the 8th, 1776, the first public reading of the Declaration was in Philadelphia.
On August 2, 1776, delegates would sign the parchment copy of the Declaration.
The handwriting of the document probably belongs to Timothy Matlack, of Philadelphia.
One of Benjamin Franklin’s quotes was, “We must all hang together or assuredly, we shall all hang separately.”
For more information, check out:
1776, by: David McCullough
Washington A Life, by: Ron Chernow
The American Revolution, by: John Grafton
