Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Declaration of Independence

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, a document drawn up by a committee of the American Congress, consisting of Thomas Jefferson, of Virginia; John Adams, of Massachusetts; Roger Sherman, of Connecticut; Robert R. Livingston, of New York; and Benjamin Franklin, of Pennsylvania. A draft was reported by this committee on June 28. On July 2 a resolution was adopted declaring the colonies free and independent States, and on July 4, the Declaration of Independence was agreed to, engrossed on paper, and signed by John Hancock, President. It was afterward engrossed on parchment and signed by the representatives of the States as below. The independence of the United States was acknowledged by France, Jan. 16, 1778, and by Holland, April 19, 1782; and provisional articles of peace were signed by England, Sept. 3, 1782.

The Declaration, as agreed to, follows:

A DECLARATION

&mdash; Josiah Bartlett, Wm. Whipple, Matthew Thornton.

&mdash; Saml. Adams, John Adams, Robt. Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry.

&mdash; Steph. Hopkins, William Ellery.

&mdash; Roger Sherman, Sam'l Huntington, Wm. Williams, Oliver Wolcott.

&mdash; Wm. Floyd, Phil. Livingston, Frans. Lewis, Lewis Morris.

&mdash; Richd. Stockton, Jno. Witherspoon, Frans. Hopkinson, John Hart, Abra. Clark.

&mdash; Robt. Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benja. Franklin, John Morton, Geo. Clymer, Jas. Smith, Geo. Taylor, James Wilson, Geo. Ross.

&mdash; Cæsar Rodney, Geo. Read, Tho. M&rsquo;Kean.

&mdash; Samuel Chase, Wm. Paca, Thos. Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton.

&mdash; George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thos. Jefferson, Benja. Harrison, Thos. Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton.

&mdash; Wm. Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn.

&mdash; Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton.

&mdash; Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, Geo. Walton.