The Living Signatories to The Declaration of Independence and the American Jubilee

America at 250, America at 50 On July 4, 2026, the United States will celebrate a special Independence Day marking the 250th anniversary of America’s independence on July 4, 1776. While much attention will be on America’s 250th, this article will focus on the 200th anniversary of America’s 50th anniversary of its independence, better known as the American Jubilee or the July 4, 1826 semi-centennial. Of all of America’s full and half-centennials, the American Jubilee was unique in that three of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence – John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Charles Carroll (who signed as Charles Carroll of Carrollton) – lived to see the occasion. Famously, both Adams and Jefferson died on July 4, 1826, with Jefferson, who followed Adams as president, preceding Adams in death (the fifth president, James Monroe, would die exactly five years later on July 4, 1831). Much has been written about the July 4, 1826 deaths of Adams and Jefferson. Below, I hope to…