Who were the 55 delegates who devoted extraordinary efforts to drafting the U. S. Constitution in 1787? Some, like George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Alexander Hamilton, still loom large more than two centuries later, while others, like William Few, George Read, and Jared Ingersoll, are largely forgotten. Ranging in age from 30 to 90, the delegates came from a variety of backgrounds. Some were from wealthy families while others had risen to prominence from humbler backgrounds. Many were landowners but others were lawyers, judges, or merchants. Over half were college graduates. Three were physicians and another was a college professor. Among them was Major William Pierce of Missouri, whose candid and sometimes unflattering notes on the delegates included here give an idea of their personalities.
