Unfamiliar 4th of July Facts
We thought it would be appropriate to share some fun facts about this historic day, some things many people don’t know about.
- July 4 wasn’t deemed a federal holiday until 1870, nearly 100 years after the nation was founded.
- Only John Hancock actually signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. All the others signed later.
- The average age of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence was 45. The youngest was Thomas Lynch, Jr (27) of South Carolina. The oldest delegate was Benjamin Franklin (70) of Pennsylvania. The lead author of The Declaration, Thomas Jefferson, was 33.
- One out of every eight signers of the Declaration of Independence were educated at Harvard (7 total).
- The only two signers of the Declaration of Independence who later served as President of the United States were John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
- The stars on the original American flag were in a circle so all the Colonies would appear equal.
- Three US presidents have died on July 4 — John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Monroe. In a bizarre twist of fate, Adams and Jefferson both died on July 4, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of the country they helped found.
- In 1776, there were 2.5 million people living in the new nation. Today the population of the U.S.A. is 326 million.
- Fifty-nine places in the U.S. contain the word “liberty” in the name. Pennsylvania, with 11.
- Every 4th of July the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia is tapped (not actually rung) thirteen times in honor of the original thirteen colonies.
Have a safe 4th of July
Dan Lacy
Business Growth Coach
P.S. We help business owners make money and live better lives. This link tells you how. https://