The US Constitution Was Written by Delegates Who Averaged 42 Years of Age

The document that has governed the United States for over 235 years was written by relatively young men. The 55 delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787 had an average age of just 42 years old. Benjamin Franklin, at 81, was the oldest. Jonathan Dayton of New Jersey, at 26, was the youngest.

James Madison, often called the 'Father of the Constitution,' was 36. Alexander Hamilton was 32. Many of the key framers were lawyers, merchants, and planters with practical political experience. The Convention began in May 1787 and concluded on September 17, 1787. The Constitution was ratified by the required 9 states by June 21, 1788.