Constitution Delegates

Twelve of the thirteen colonies (Rhode Island chose not to participate) elected 74 delegates to the Constitutional Convention.   However, some delegates either would not or could not participate.   The 19 who did not attend, for whatever reason, are listed below. ^{Fortson n.p.}

      Richard Henry Lee (VA)            Francis Dana (MA)
      Patrick Henry (VA)                Erastus Wolcott (CT)
      Thomas Nelson (VA)                George Walton (GA)
      John Pickering (NH)               Nathaniel Pendleton (GA)
      Robert Hanson Harrison (MD)       John Neilson (NJ)
      Charles Carroll (MD)              Abraham Clark (NJ)
      Thomas Sims Lee (MD)              Richard Caswell (NC)
      Thomas Stone (MD)                 Willie Jones (NC)
      Gabriel Duvall (MD)               Henry Laurens (SC)
      Benjamin West (NH)

A total of 55 delegates attended some or all of the Constitutional Convention sessions.   Of these, 42 were present for the signing, and 39 signed the final document.   Abstaining were George Mason and Edmund Randolph of Virginia, and Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts.   Biographical sketches of the delegates can be obtained from the list below. ^{Archives n.p.}

Note:   * indicates a delegate who did not sign the Constitution.