John Penn (May 17, 1741 – September 14, 1788) was an American Founding Father who served multiple terms in the Continental Congress, and who signed both the Declaration of Independence and Articles of Confederation as a delegate of North Carolina. Patriot, Continental Congress member, and North Carolina signer of the Declaration of Independence, John Penn and his contributions to the American Revolution and the early days of a fledgling nation have been overlooked. Penn was one of three North Carolinians who signed the Declaration of Independence, and his efforts on the North Carolina Board of War were instrumental in undermining Three men from North Carolina, chosen by the state's First Provincial Congress, signed the Declaration: Joseph Hewes, William Hooper, and John Penn.; Of the three signers, Joseph Hewes was the most well-established in the colony. Hooper served on Thomas Jefferson's committee to compose the Declaration of Independence, but was absent when it was actually voted and declared on the 4th of July. He affixed his name to the amended Declaration on 2 August 1776. In 1777, Hooper was stricken with yellow fever, and resigned his seat in April. Although Joseph Hewes was a native of New Jersey, he was one of three North Carolinians to sign the Declaration of Independence. His business experience, education and honorable character enabled the Tar Heel to serve North Carolina vigilantly in public service for thirteen years. At 33, he agreed to draft the Declaration of Independence upon John Adams’s insistence that Jefferson was more eloquent and well-liked than him. 17 June 1742–14 Oct. 1790 "William Hooper." N.C. Highway Historical Marker D-45, N.C. Office of Archives & History. William Hooper, one of North Carolina's three signers of the Declaration of Independence, foremost Patriot leader, writer, orator, attorney, and legislator, was the oldest of five children of the Scots divine, the Reverend William Hooper (1704–14 Apr. 1767), second rector of North Carolina has three signatories to the Declaration of Independence, William Hooper, John Penn, and Joseph Hewes. Interestingly enough, none of the North Carolina signers were native North Carolinians. William Hooper (June 28, 1742 – October 14, 1790) [1] was an American Founding Father, lawyer, and politician. [2] As a member of the Continental Congress representing North Carolina, Hooper signed the Continental Association and the Declaration of Independence. A representative of North Carolina at the signing of the Declaration of Independence, William Hooper risked death and sacrificed his personal income to secure the creation of the United States. He later pursued a Federalist political ideology, which many North Carolinians disagreed with, and served as a federal judge until shortly before his death. See also: Pre-revolutionary Resolves; Mecklenburg Resolves Souvenir depiction of the legendary Mecklenburg Declaration. Image from The Mecklenburg declaration of independence : a study of evidence showing that the alleged early declaration of independence by Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, on May 20th, 1775, is spurious. The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence is the name given to a Pamplet edited by Memory F. Mitchell for the State Department of Archives and History that provides brief biographical sketches of the North Carolinians that signed the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. July 19 - Congress orders the Declaration of Independence engrossed (officially inscribed) and signed by members. August 2 - Delegates begin to sign the engrossed copy of the Declaration of Independence. A large British reinforcement arrives at New York after being repelled at Charlestown, SC. North Carolina played an important role in the beginning of the United States. Three North Carolinians signed the Declaration of Independence: William Hooper, John Penn, and Joseph Hewes. William Hooper, one of North Carolina’s three signers of the Declaration of Independence, was born in Boston on June 17, 1742. He was the eldest child of William Hooper, Sr., rector of Boston’s Trinity Church, and his wife Mary, the daughter of a prominent Boston merchant. North Carolina had three signers to the Declaration of Independence in July of 1776 at Philadelphia: Joseph Hewes, a merchant and justice of the peace from Edenton in Chowan County; John Penn, a farmer from Island Creek in Granville County; and William Hooper, a lawyer and delegate from New Hanover County. John Penn (May 17, 1741 – September 14, 1788), was a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence as a representative of North Carolina along with Joseph Hewes and William Hooper. Penn was distantly related to William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania. The Declaration of Independence: And a little bit about the North Carolina signers Published 9:53 am Tuesday, July 1, 2025 William Hooper was recognized for his participation in The Declaration of Independence in several areas. His prophetic observation in a letter of 26 April 1774 to his friend James Iredell is often quoted as a landmark of colonial foresight at this early period. Hooper wrote, “The Colonies are striding fast to independence, and ere long will build an empire upon the ruins of Great Britain Signers of the Declaration of Independence Download this Information in PDF Format
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