Founding Fathers

John Hancock was an 18th century U.S. merchant who was president of the Continental Congress and the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence.

The fourth U.S. president, James Madison believed in a robust yet balanced federal government and is known as the "Father of the Constitution."

John Adams was a Founding Father, the first vice president of the United States and the second president. His son, John Quincy Adams, was the nation's sixth president.

Benjamin Franklin is best known as one of the Founding Fathers who never served as president but was a respected inventor, publisher, scientist and diplomat.

George Washington, a Founding Father of the United States, led the Continental Army to victory in the Revolutionary War and was America’s first president.

Patrick Henry was an attorney, orator and a major figure of the American Revolution who is best known for his words "Give me liberty or give me death!"

Thomas Jefferson was a Founding Father of the United States who wrote the Declaration of Independence. As U.S. president, he completed the Louisiana Purchase.

Alexander Hamilton was a Founding Father, a Constitutional Convention delegate, author of the Federalist papers and the first secretary of the U.S. treasury.

Thomas Paine was an English American writer and pamphleteer whose "Common Sense" and other writings influenced the American Revolution, and helped pave the way for the Declaration of Independence.

American Founding Father Samuel Adams helped organize the Boston Tea Party and signed the U.S. Declaration of Independence.

Richard Henry Lee was an American statesman from Virginia who made the motion, known as the Lee Resolution, for independence from Great Britain.

John Dickinson was an American statesman, delegate to the Continental Congress and one of the writers of the Articles of Confederation.

The fifth president of the United States, James Monroe is known for his "Monroe Doctrine," disallowing further European colonization in the Americas.

Statesman Roger Sherman signed the Continental Association, the Articles of Confederation, Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution, and served in the Continental Congress and both houses of the U.S. legislature.

Benjamin Rush is best known for his political activities during the American Revolution, including signing the Declaration of Independence.

George Mason was an American patriot who participated in the American Revolution and the Constitutional Convention and who was influential in penning the Bill of Rights.

John Marshall became the fourth chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1801. He is largely responsible for establishing the Supreme Court's role in federal government.

One of the Founding Fathers of the United States, John Jay is known as one of the writers of 'The Federalist Papers' and for being the nation's first chief justice of the Supreme Court.