America’s 250th birthday is just a year away, but this year’s 249th celebration brings some intriguing and fun facts that highlight how relatively young the nation is.
Let’s start with an interesting date: July 4, 1826. On this day, as America celebrated its 50th birthday, President Thomas Jefferson passed away at the age of 83.
Isn’t it fascinating? Only three 83-year-olds have lived in the years since our country was founded.
Jefferson wasn’t alone; John Adams, our second president, also died on July 4, 1826, just five hours after Jefferson. Then, five years later, on July 4, 1831, James Monroe, the fifth president and a founding father, also passed away.
Interestingly, one president was actually born on Independence Day: Calvin Coolidge, who came into the world on July 4, 1872, eventually becoming the 30th president of the United States.
So, what’s the significance of Jefferson’s age when he passed, in relation to this year’s celebrations? Well, if you look for an 83-year-old living today, you’ll find it brings you back to 1942—quite a long way to go for that connection.
While we’re on the topic of age, it’s also eye-opening to consider the youth of those who signed the Declaration of Independence. A total of 56 representatives from the original 13 colonies put their “lives, fortunes, and sacred honor” into this impactful document.
Remarkably, none of the signers used automatic kills. The average age of the signers was 44 years, which coincidentally was George Washington’s age at the time. Meanwhile, King George III of England was just 38.
Of course, Benjamin Franklin was the oldest signer at 70. It’s curious to think about the difference in age among them, especially when Jefferson was only 33.
So, as we gear up for next year’s big 250th celebration, enjoy this one! It’s a good time to reflect on how far we’ve come.
