Exhibits

The Educational Background of the Framers

by Gordon Lloyd and Jeff Sammon

Introduction

It has often been remarked that in the journey of life, the young rely on energy to counteract the experience of the old. And vice versa. What makes this Constitutional Convention remarkable is that the delegates were both young and experienced. The average age of the delegates was 42 and four of the most influential delegates—Alexander Hamilton, Edmund Randolph, Gouvernor Morris, and James Madison—were in their thirties. Over half of the delegates graduated from College with nine from Princeton and six from British Universities. Even more significant was the continental political experience of the Framers: 8 signed the Declaration of Independence, 25 served in the Continental Congress, 15 helped draft the new State Constitutions between 1776 and 1780, and 40 served in the Confederation Congress between 1783 and 1787.

The Delegates Arranged by School

Harvard


Yale


College of New Jersey (Princeton)


Middle Temple (London)


College of William and Mary


King’s College (Columbia)


College of Philadelphia (University of Pennsylvania)


Dartmouth


Newark Academy


Inner Temple (London)


Oxford (England)


St. Andrews (Scotland)


Glasgow (Scotland)


Edinburgh (Scotland)


College of Saint Omer (Netherlands)


Tutor or Professor

Age of Delegates

Alphabetical List

Continental Experience

Economic Interests

Educational Background

State List

Titles of Honor

Quorum Requirements

A Four-Act Drama

Artistic Portrayals of the Convention

Attendance Record

Committee Chart

Interactive Map of Philadelphia

Intro to the Convention

Letters from the Convention

Madison’s Notes

Major Themes of the Convention

Summary of the Convention

The Delegates

The Constitution

Timeline of the Convention

Washington at City Tavern

Exhibit Home

Constitutional Convention Document Collection