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Birth: February 15, 1726
Death: September 15, 1794 (age 68)
Colony: New Jersey
Occupation: Politician
Significance: Signed The Declaration of Independence (at the age of 35); and served as United States Congressman (1791-1794)
Abraham Clark was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. Born in New Jersey, Clark was an ardent Patriot and supporter of Independence. In 1776, the New Jersey state convention grew frustrated with their delegates in the Second Continental Congress and their refusal to support Independence. So on June 21, 1776, New Jersey removed all of their delegates and replaced them with new delegates who were in favor of Independence. Clark was one of the new delegates, and he arrived in Philadelphia to join the Second Continental Congress just in time for Clark to vote for Independence. After signing The Declaration of Independence on August 2, 1776, Clark continued to serve in the Second Continental Congress until 1778.
Upon leaving the Second Continental Congress, Clark returned to New Jersey where he was elected to the New Jersey Legislative Council. In 1786, Clark served as a New Jersey delegate to the Annapolis Convention which attempted to resolve issues with the failing Articles of Confederation. While little progress was made, mostly due to delegates failing to arrive in Annapolis, Maryland, the recommendations of the Annapolis Convention led to the Philadelphia Convention a year later, which created the Constitution of the United States.
Abraham Clark in Philadelphia
Clark arrived in Philadelphia in 1776 as a Delegate to the Second Continental Congress. While serving as a member of the Second Continental Congress, Clark worked at Independence Hall, and he signed The Declaration of Independence. A plaque commemorating Clark for signing The Declaration of Independence can be found on Signers' Walk on the 600 block of Chestnut Street (between 5th and 6th Streets).
