Work Title: The Life of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, 1737–1832

Two‑volume documentary biography of the only Catholic signer; extensive correspondence.

Public domain; Maryland State Archives/Archive.org.

Charles Carroll

Early Life and Education

Charles Carroll was born on September 19, 1737, in Annapolis, Maryland, into a wealthy Catholic family. He was educated in France and studied law in London. Returning to Maryland, he became a prominent advocate for colonial rights, using his pen to challenge British authority under the pseudonym “First Citizen.”

Revolutionary Advocacy

As one of the few Roman Catholics in public life, Carroll’s support for independence helped broaden the Revolution’s appeal. He served on Maryland’s Committee of Correspondence and was elected to the Continental Congress in 1776. He signed the Declaration of Independence, becoming the only Catholic to do so.

State and National Service

Carroll helped draft Maryland’s constitution and served in its Senate. He later represented Maryland in the U.S. Senate from 1789 to 1792. Though he eventually retired from national politics, he remained active in state affairs and supported internal improvements and education.

Final Years and Enduring Symbolism

Carroll was the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence, living to see the 50th anniversary of its adoption. He died on November 14, 1832, at the age of 95. His long life and principled service made him a living symbol of the Founding generation’s ideals.

Source:
McCabe, James D. The Centennial Book of American Biography: Embracing the Lives of the Great Men Whose Deeds Illustrate the First 100 Years of American Independence. Philadelphia and Chicago: P. W. Ziegler & Co., 1876. Internet Archive