🇺🇸Best Founding Fathers Ranked

George Washington

Washington commanded the Continental Army through eight years of war and presided over the Constitutional Convention. His voluntary retirement after two terms set the precedent for civilian control of the military.

Lifespan: 1732-1799Signed Declaration: —Signed Constitution: ✓Served in Congress: ✓Home State: VirginiaInfluence Rating: 10/10

added by Yourlist Editorialin 11 rankingsGeorge Washington

Thomas Jefferson

Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence and later expanded the nation through the Louisiana Purchase as president. His writings framed American ideals of liberty and limited government.

Lifespan: 1743-1826Signed Declaration: ✓Signed Constitution: —Served in Congress: ✓Home State: VirginiaInfluence Rating: 9.5/10

added by Yourlist Editorialin 16 rankingsThomas Jefferson

Benjamin Franklin▲ Rising

Franklin secured French alliance and loans that made American victory possible. He also helped draft both the Declaration and the Constitution.

Lifespan: 1706-1790Signed Declaration: ✓Signed Constitution: ✓Served in Congress: ✓Home State: PennsylvaniaInfluence Rating: 9.2/10

added by Yourlist Editorialin 6 rankingsBenjamin Franklin

Samuel Adams▲ Rising

Adams organized the Sons of Liberty and the Boston Tea Party that escalated conflict with Britain. He signed the Declaration and later served as governor of Massachusetts.

Lifespan: 1722-1803Signed Declaration: ✓Signed Constitution: —Served in Congress: ✓Home State: MassachusettsInfluence Rating: 7.8/10

added by Yourlist EditorialSamuel Adams

James Madison

Madison kept the detailed notes of the Constitutional Convention and co-authored the Federalist Papers. He later drafted the Bill of Rights.

Lifespan: 1751-1836Signed Declaration: —Signed Constitution: ✓Served in Congress: ✓Home State: VirginiaInfluence Rating: 9/10

added by Yourlist Editorialin 9 rankingsJames Madison

Patrick Henry

Henry's 'Give me liberty or give me death' speech rallied Virginia to independence. He opposed the Constitution without a bill of rights but later accepted the new government.

Lifespan: 1736-1799Signed Declaration: —Signed Constitution: —Served in Congress: ✓Home State: VirginiaInfluence Rating: 7.2/10

added by Yourlist EditorialPatrick Henry

Thomas Paine▲ Rising

Paine's Common Sense pamphlet sold widely and shifted opinion toward full independence in 1776. He later wrote The Rights of Man defending the French Revolution.

Lifespan: 1737-1809Signed Declaration: —Signed Constitution: —Served in Congress: —Home State: PennsylvaniaInfluence Rating: 7.9/10

added by Yourlist Editorialin 2 rankingsThomas Paine

John Adams

Adams defended British soldiers after the Boston Massacre and pushed Congress toward independence. He negotiated the Treaty of Paris and later served as the second president.

Lifespan: 1735-1826Signed Declaration: ✓Signed Constitution: —Served in Congress: ✓Home State: MassachusettsInfluence Rating: 9/10

added by Yourlist Editorialin 12 rankingsJohn Adams

John Hancock

Hancock presided over the Continental Congress when the Declaration was adopted and signed it first in large letters. He also funded patriot causes with his fortune.

Lifespan: 1737-1793Signed Declaration: ✓Signed Constitution: —Served in Congress: ✓Home State: MassachusettsInfluence Rating: 6.8/10

added by Yourlist EditorialJohn Hancock

John Jay

Jay negotiated the Treaty of Paris and later the Jay Treaty that avoided war with Britain. He served as first Chief Justice and helped ratify the Constitution.

Lifespan: 1745-1829Signed Declaration: —Signed Constitution: —Served in Congress: ✓Home State: New YorkInfluence Rating: 7.5/10

added by Yourlist Editorialin 2 rankingsJohn Jay

Alexander Hamilton

Hamilton wrote most of the Federalist Papers and created the financial system that funded the new government. His reports established federal credit and a national bank.

Lifespan: 1755-1804Signed Declaration: —Signed Constitution: ✓Served in Congress: —Home State: New YorkInfluence Rating: 8.8/10

added by Yourlist Editorialin 4 rankingsAlexander Hamilton

James Monroe

Monroe fought in the Revolution, served in the Continental Congress, and later became the fifth president who issued the Monroe Doctrine.

Lifespan: 1758-1831Signed Declaration: —Signed Constitution: —Served in Congress: ✓Home State: VirginiaInfluence Rating: 6.5/10

added by Yourlist Editorialin 5 rankingsJames Monroe

Elbridge Gerry

Gerry signed the Declaration and attended the Constitutional Convention though he refused to sign the final document. He later became vice president.

Lifespan: 1744-1814Signed Declaration: ✓Signed Constitution: —Served in Congress: ✓Home State: MassachusettsInfluence Rating: 5.8/10

added by Yourlist EditorialElbridge Gerry

Roger Sherman▼ Falling

Sherman proposed the Great Compromise that balanced large and small states in Congress. He signed both the Declaration and the Constitution.

Lifespan: 1721-1793Signed Declaration: ✓Signed Constitution: ✓Served in Congress: ✓Home State: ConnecticutInfluence Rating: 7.3/10

added by Yourlist EditorialRoger Sherman

Nathan Hale

Hale volunteered as a spy behind British lines and was executed, becoming a symbol of patriotic sacrifice with his reported last words.

Lifespan: 1755-1776Signed Declaration: —Signed Constitution: —Served in Congress: —Home State: ConnecticutInfluence Rating: 5/10

added by Yourlist Editorialin 2 rankingsNathan Hale

Gouverneur Morris

Morris wrote the final draft of the Constitution and the famous preamble 'We the People.' He also helped design the dollar coin system.

Lifespan: 1752-1816Signed Declaration: —Signed Constitution: ✓Served in Congress: —Home State: New YorkInfluence Rating: 7/10

added by Yourlist EditorialGouverneur Morris

William Floyd

Floyd signed the Declaration of Independence and served as a general in the New York militia during the war.

Lifespan: 1734-1821Signed Declaration: ✓Signed Constitution: —Served in Congress: ✓Home State: New YorkInfluence Rating: 4.8/10

added by Yourlist EditorialWilliam Floyd

Lewis Morris

Morris signed the Declaration despite risk to his estate and later helped establish the University of the State of New York.

Lifespan: 1726-1798Signed Declaration: ✓Signed Constitution: —Served in Congress: ✓Home State: New YorkInfluence Rating: 4.3/10

added by Yourlist EditorialLewis Morris

Robert Morris▼ Falling

Morris financed the Revolution as superintendent of finance and signed the Declaration, Articles of Confederation, and Constitution.

Lifespan: 1734-1806Signed Declaration: ✓Signed Constitution: ✓Served in Congress: ✓Home State: PennsylvaniaInfluence Rating: 6.9/10

added by Yourlist EditorialRobert Morris

Ethan Allen

Allen led the Green Mountain Boys in capturing Fort Ticonderoga, giving patriots their first major victory and artillery for Boston.

Lifespan: 1738-1789Signed Declaration: —Signed Constitution: —Served in Congress: —Home State: VermontInfluence Rating: 5.5/10

added by Yourlist EditorialEthan Allen

John Marshall

Marshall fought in the Revolution, attended the Virginia ratifying convention, and as Chief Justice established judicial review in Marbury v. Madison.

Lifespan: 1755-1835Signed Declaration: —Signed Constitution: —Served in Congress: ✓Home State: VirginiaInfluence Rating: 7.6/10

added by Yourlist Editorialin 3 rankingsJohn Marshall

George Wythe

Wythe signed the Declaration, taught law to Jefferson and Marshall, and helped write Virginia's constitution as a leading legal mind.

Lifespan: 1726-1806Signed Declaration: ✓Signed Constitution: —Served in Congress: ✓Home State: VirginiaInfluence Rating: 6.1/10

added by Yourlist EditorialGeorge Wythe

Charles Pinckney

Pinckney helped write the Constitution and proposed the electoral college compromise. He later served as governor and minister to Spain.

Lifespan: 1757-1824Signed Declaration: —Signed Constitution: ✓Served in Congress: ✓Home State: South CarolinaInfluence Rating: 6.2/10

added by Yourlist EditorialCharles Pinckney

Paul Revere

Revere's midnight ride warned colonial militia of British movements before Lexington and Concord. He also produced engravings that shaped public opinion.

Lifespan: 1735-1818Signed Declaration: —Signed Constitution: —Served in Congress: —Home State: MassachusettsInfluence Rating: 6/10

added by Yourlist EditorialPaul Revere

Richard Henry Lee

Lee introduced the resolution for independence in Congress and later served as president of the Confederation Congress.

Lifespan: 1732-1794Signed Declaration: ✓Signed Constitution: —Served in Congress: ✓Home State: VirginiaInfluence Rating: 6.3/10

added by Yourlist EditorialRichard Henry Lee

Francis Lewis

Lewis signed the Declaration and lost his home and fortune when the British destroyed his estate on Long Island.

Lifespan: 1713-1802Signed Declaration: ✓Signed Constitution: —Served in Congress: ✓Home State: New YorkInfluence Rating: 4.5/10

added by Yourlist EditorialFrancis Lewis

Oliver Wolcott▼ Falling

Wolcott signed the Declaration, led Connecticut troops, and later served as governor while helping end the Wyoming Valley dispute.

Lifespan: 1726-1797Signed Declaration: ✓Signed Constitution: —Served in Congress: ✓Home State: ConnecticutInfluence Rating: 4.7/10

added by Yourlist EditorialOliver Wolcott