On August 2, 1776, the members of Congress gathered to formally put their signatures on the declaration of independence. A total of 56 members made up the delegation, including several individuals who had not been present for the actual approval vote. The signing proceeded by State in a North to South order, with New Hampshire delegate Josiah Bartlett being the first to sign and John Dickinson of Georgia placing his name last.
That said, a number of delegates chose not to sign, holding firm in their opposition. Among those who refused were John Jay, Robert Livingston and James Duane of New York, along with Robert Morris of Pennsylvania.
Interestingly, certain leaders who had themselves opposed the document nonetheless added their signatures in the spirit of presenting a unanimous Congress. Edward Rutledge of South Carolina, George Reed of Delaware, Robert Morris of Pennsylvania and Carter Braxton of Virginia all fell into this category.
Five delegates were notably absent when the signing took place. These were Virginia Governor Patrick Henry and Generals Christopher Gadsden, James Clinton, John Sullivan and George Washington.
Roughly a month prior to the formal signing, on July 2, 1776, Congress had given its approval to a resolution proposed by George Washington. The resolution declared; "Resolved: That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved."
Just two days after that, on July 4, Congress officially adopted the Declaration of Independence draft penned by Thomas Jefferson. John Hancock, serving as president of the Congress, and Charles Thompson, the secretary, both signed the handwritten draft before it was sent off to the printers.
A handwritten copy that bore the signatures of all the delegates was produced by Congress on July 19, and Baltimore printer Mary Katharine Goddard later printed it on January 18, 1777.
The news of the Declaration of Independence ultimately reached London on August 9, marking the final chapter in this remarkable sequence of events.