This document profiles seven individuals who played important but lesser known roles in America's founding: Jonathan Trumbull Sr. was the governor of Connecticut who supported the Patriots and refused to help the British. Charles Carroll financed the revolution out of his own funds and helped establish religious freedom. Benjamin Rush was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and pioneer in medicine. John Hancock's signature became a symbol of freedom. John Witherspoon advocated for independence. John Peter Muhlenberg recruited soldiers while serving as a minister. John Jay negotiated the peace treaty ending the Revolutionary War and later became the first Chief Justice.

1. Un-Sung Heroes of the
Declaration of Independence

2. Jonathan
Trumbull Sr.
(1710-1785)
Governor of
Connecticut
Sided early with the
Patriots during the
Revolutionary War
Refused to assist
General Gage in
Boston
Friend, Aide and
confidant to General
Washington

3. Charles Carroll
(1737-18320)
Maryland
Delegate to
Continental
Congress
Finance the
revolution with his
own money
Recognize the
necessity for
independence
Helped in the struggle
for the acceptance of
the Roman Catholic
religion in America

4. Benjamin Rush
(1745-1813)
Pennsylvania
 Signer of the
Declaration
 A physician, educator,
& humanitarian
 Father of American
Medicine
 Pioneer in physiology
& psychiatry
 Favored a national
university for public
servants

5. John Hancock
(1737-1793)
Massachusetts
• Most famous
signature in the
world
• His name quickly
became second only
to that of George
Washington as a
symbol of freedom

6. John Witherspoon
(1723-1794)
New jersey
College President, Princeton
• Famous quote, “was not
only ripe for the
measure, but in danger
of rotting for the want of
it.”
• Scottish immigrant who
became a member of the
Continental Congress
• Presbyterian clergyman
who became the
President of Princeton
University

7. John Peter Muhlenberg
(1746-1807)
Virginia
Commanded 8th Virginia
(German) Regiment
Protestant minister
Rev. Muhlenberg a
member of the “Black
regiment”
Recruited large number
of volunteer for the
Revolutionary cause
Rose to the rank of
general

8. John Jay
(1745-1829)
New York
 Member of the
Continental Congress
who favored
independence
 Negotiate the peace
treaty with England
ending the
Revolutionary War
 Author of three
Federalist Papers
 First Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court

9. Alexis de Tocqueville
(1805-1859)
French Political
Thinker/Historian • Wrote “Democracy in
America” and “The Old
Regime and the
Revolution.”
• Promoted democratic
concepts: liberty,
egalitarianism,
individualism, populism,
and laissez-faire