I did a post on Ricochet.com, letting my friends there know that I was doing this series. It made the Main Feed pretty quickly, and I was surprised and pleased. One of the commenters there asked for me to discuss the only Catholic signer of the Declaration, and I am granting his wish here. I will also admit that I did not know that there was only ONE Catholic signer, with all the others being various flavors of Protestant or non-denominational Christian. Early in our country’s history, there was a considerable amount of anti-Catholic sentiment, and they were often discriminated against in society. But that’s a whole other area of interest.

So, today’s honoree is Charles Carroll of Carrollton, from the state of Maryland.

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Charles Carroll of Carrollton was the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence. Born on September 19, 1737, in Annapolis, Maryland, Carroll was one of the wealthiest and most educated men in the colonies; he was a powerful voice for freedom, religious liberty, and Maryland’s place in the new nation.

Educated in Europe in liberal arts and civic law, Carroll returned to Maryland at age 28, only to find himself barred from public office due to his Catholic faith. This did not prevent Carroll from amassing a fortune through agricultural estates and financing new businesses. He was reportedly worth $375 million in today’s dollars. His family had long hoped Maryland would one day serve as a haven for persecuted Catholics—a vision Carroll helped bring to life through steadfast service and sacrifice.

In 1773, Carroll rose to prominence as a public advocate for colonial rights, writing under the pseudonym “First Citizen” in the Maryland Gazette. He played a crucial role in securing Maryland’s resolution for independence and served in the Second Continental Congress, where he risked his life and fortune to sign the Declaration of Independence. As one spectator is said to have remarked after Carroll signed onto the Declaration, “There go a few millions.”

Carroll was a major financier of the Revolution. He helped draft the Maryland Constitution and was instrumental in the state’s ratification of the U.S. Constitution. From 1789 to 1792, he served as Maryland’s first U.S. Senator.

Devoted to God, family, and country, Charles Carroll lived to the remarkable age of 95, dying on November 14, 1832, as the longest-living and last surviving signer of the Declaration.

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So, it seems that Mr. Carroll had more than one “claim to fame”, being the only Catholic, and the longest-surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence. He should be better-known today, and I am happy to do my part to recognize him and bring his story to my readers. Once again, I would also like to thank the White House for their fabulous page listing all the signers of the Declaration of Independence, on this 250th Anniversary.

God Bless America, and God Bless our President, Donald Trump.