Ideals and Realities
In John Trumbull’s famous painting “Declaration of Independence,” all of the delegates are pictured as present at the signing. The Committee of Five are also pictured presenting the document to be signed on July 4, 1776.
What is the reality?
Actually, it was signed by John Hancock, and possibly also by the secretary of the Continental Congress, Charles Thomson. The only copies printed just show Hancock’s signature. Thomas Jefferson wrote on the day that all of the delegates in Congress signed the approved document, but there is no evidence today that such a document existed. Based on the available evidence, no delegate except Hancock signed until August 2, 1776, and even then a few did not sign until sometime later.