Thomas Stone, the Reluctant Revolutionary Who Signed the Declaration of Independence

Ask Americans who signed the Declaration of Independence and some will name Benjamin Franklin, John and Samuel Adams, or John Hancock, whose signature is the largest. Some know Thomas Jefferson wrote it; others wrongly think George Washington or Patrick Henry signed it (neither did). Few know that 56 men signed, and fewer still can name more than four or five — mostly the outspoken champions of revolution. The moderates are often forgotten. Thomas Stone is one of them.

A representation of Thomas Stone at his writing desk. Harpers Ferry Center.

Not everyone wanted war

Many Americans today believe that nearly everyone in the thirteen colonies supported the Revolutionary War, and that all the founders were eager for war and independence. That is not accurate. Many members of the Continental Congress were moderates, especially in the war's first year — Stone among them.

A cautious man

• Stone was not rash: he was cautious and deliberate.
• At thirty-three, he was one of the youngest members of Congress.
• He preferred the background to the spotlight, and was known more for the quality of his writing than for speeches.

Choosing a side

By 1776, most of Congress had swung behind the revolutionaries. Only a few members, Stone included, kept working for a peaceful reconciliation with England. That caution is why he is often called a "reluctant revolutionary." But once he decided to side with the revolutionaries, he backed the war wholeheartedly.

His story is told at Thomas Stone National Historic Site.

Sources

Based on "A Reluctant Revolutionary?," National Park Service, Thomas Stone National Historic Site; a work of the United States government in the public domain.