- Thomas Jefferson: A lawyer and plantation owner from Virginia, Jefferson was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence. He was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses and had served as a delegate to the Continental Congress.
- John Adams: A lawyer and politician from Massachusetts, Adams was a strong advocate for independence. He had served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and was later elected as the second President of the United States.
- Benjamin Franklin: A printer, scientist, and diplomat from Pennsylvania, Franklin was a leading figure in the American Enlightenment. He had served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and was later appointed as the first Postmaster General of the United States.
- Roger Sherman: A lawyer and politician from Connecticut, Sherman had served as a delegate to the Continental Congress. He was later elected as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.
- Robert R. Livingston: A lawyer and politician from New York, Livingston had served as a delegate to the Continental Congress. He was later appointed as the first Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the United States.
These five men represented different regions and interests of the colonies, and their diversity helped to ensure that the Declaration of Independence would reflect the views and concerns of all Americans.