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  * Adams died on July 4, 1826 at the age of 90 years 247 days. He had the longest marriage of any ex-president. He and Abigail were married on October 25, 1764 and the marriage lasted 54 years.

  BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

  Franklin was known as quite the prankster.

  At just 16 years of age, Franklin regularly published editorials under the pseudonym Ms. Silence Dogood, a character he created. The writings of “Dogood” were so liked—a few eligible bachelors even mailed marriage proposals to the fictitious woman! Franklin actually often wrote with fake names. And many times did so while enjoying what he called “Air Baths.”

  Yes ole Ben liked writing in the nude.

  One of his most peculiar writings was an essay encouraging scholars to find a method for “improving the odor of human flatulence.”

  Throughout his life, Franklin was credited with authoring many hoax's. Because of this he was not allowed to pen the Declaration of Independence. It was feared he would slip a joke into the document. Which considering his history, was a valid concern.

  * Franklin, along with Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, was tapped with the job of creating an official seal for the young nation. After several artistic renderings, each of which portrayed an eagle, in a letter to his daughter, Franklin famously mocked the final choice. The American Bald Eagle.

  In his letter, Franklin declared the Bald Eagle was a bad choice for the new nations official seal because it “was a bird of bad moral character that does not get his living honestly.” Franklin opined that he felt the Turkey would be better because it was a “bird of courage” and would “not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards.” This letter has caused some historians and many people to falsely believe that it is proof he preferred the Turkey to the Bald Eagle on the official seal of America, when in reality the letter was likely mere satire since it was known ole Ben actually preferred no fowl at all.

  (It's worth noting Franklin's concern over the morality of the Eagle... A common belief of most the Framers was work ethic was central to their definition of morality. When they spoke of morality they were not referring to anything having to do with lawlessness or promiscuity, but rather service and contribution to the good of the nation.)

  * Franklin was the first to bring tofu to America.

  * Ben Franklin spent much of the war years in France wrangling for financial support from the French. While in France raising funds for the war, Franklin spent much of his time partying like a rock star. Even while Mrs. Franklin lay ill back in the States. He also helped with negotiating the Treaty of Paris that ended the war.

  * Franklin was known for his suave demeanor. In fact it's partly why he was selected to win France's support during the Revolutionary War. But he also used that charm to bed women, and was very open about sex. One of Franklin's letters outlines advice on finding a mistress. One of his recommendations was to always go for older women. According to Franklin: “their age and wisdom makes them discreet partners and their faded looks makes them especially grateful for the attention.” Plus, while “The face first grows lank and wrinkled; then the neck; then the breast and arms; the lower parts continue to the last as plump as ever.” This was but just one of Ben's older lover observations. Yes Franklin was a playboy.

  * Benjamin Franklin died or April 17, 1790. While on his death bed his daughter asked him to change positions to improve his breathing and his last words were “a dying man can do nothing easy.”

  THOMAS JEFFERSON

  At 83 years of age Jefferson felt that he would not last of the summer of 1826. But he had hoped to live until July 4th which was the officially recognized 50th anniversary of America's Declaration of Independence.

  Ironically both he and John Adams died the same day July 4, 1826 after long and distinguished careers. While they had been friends early in their careers, in later life the men became political enemies. However by the end of their lives the two stayed almost constantly in touch.

  * Like Franklin, Jefferson was a “foodie” and is credited with bringing Macaroni and Cheese to the new Republic.

  * John Adam's last words were “Thomas Jefferson still survives,” not knowing that Jefferson had died earlier that day in Virginia.

  * Jefferson's last words were “Is it the fourth?” I resign my spirit to God, my daughter, and my country.”

  * Jefferson died broke. Before his death he was able to alleviate part of his financial problems by accepting $25,000 for his books from Congress.

  Those books were used to start the Library of Congress.

  Part of the reason for Jefferson's money woes was his extravagant lifestyle. He sometimes spent $50 a day (About $980.00 in today's dollars) for groceries and wine because of his lavish entertaining. Just the wine bill for the eight years he served as president was $11,000.00 (Almost $215,000.00 in today's economy).

  * Jefferson's epitaph read: Here was buried Thomas Jefferson author of the Declaration of Independence, of the Statue of Virginia for religious freedom, and the father of the University of Virginia, however it did not include President of United States! An achievement, oddly enough, many of the early Presidents omitted in their respective lists of accomplishments.

  JAMES MADISON

  James Madison was known as the Father of the Constitution since he was responsible for writing much of it.

  * Madison was also responsible for proposing the resolution to create the various cabinet positions within the Executive branch of government and 12 amendments to the constitution of which 10 became the Bill of Rights. Madison also proposed congressional pay would be determined by the average price of wheat during the previous six years of a congressional session. Imagine tying Congressional compensation to economic prosperity today? What a novel idea!

  ALEXANDER HAMILTON

  Hamilton founded the New York Post Newspaper. A paper famous for exposing, among other saucy news stories, the sexual exploits of US Politicians. Typically with provocative headlines. Oddly enough, Hamilton was the first American politician to have his career ruined by a sex scandal. Oh the irony!

  As the story goes… In 1791, Hamilton, who was a married man, met a young Philadelphia woman named Maria Reynolds. Reynolds came to Hamilton claiming she needed cash because her husband had abandoned her and she had a small daughter to support. Hamilton agreed to help, but their financial arrangement soon escalated into a romantic entanglement as the pair embarked on an affair that would last, by some estimates, for years. After hearing of the tryst, Maria's husband James returned, seeing the profit potential in the situation. And James bent on exploiting the circumstances devised a devious plot. On December 15th, Hamilton received a note from Maria informing him that her husband would soon be threatening to tell Mrs. Hamilton of the affair. And as predicted, two days later, Hamilton received a letter from James Reynolds that accused him of destroying a happy home and proposed a solution.

  Mr. Reynolds pain could be assuaged if Hamilton would agree to fork over the cash.

  Hamilton agreed. And so Maria's husband allowed the relationship to continue and a pattern was established in which Maria (by this time likely complicit in her husband’s scheme) would write to Hamilton, inviting him to visit when her husband was out of the house. Shortly after these meetings, James would request another pay-off. Because he was Secretary of the US Treasury and out of fear of exposure, Hamilton readily coughed up the cash each time. Eventually Hamilton was forced to admit to the affair after James Reynolds threatened to implicate him in a scheme involving unpaid back wages intended for Revolutionary War veterans.

  Hamilton’s reputation remained in tatters up to that fateful day on the morning of July 11th, 1804 when he lost a duel with Aaron Burr, Hamilton dying the following day.

  * It is strangely coincidental that in 1801 Hamilton's son Philip, was killed in a duel at the exact same location in Weehawken New Jersey where his father would die. Philip was presumably defending his fathers honor against a man he felt had besmirched his characte
r earlier that year. Stranger still is that it is widely believed that Alexander Hamilton died in the duel with Burr because he purposely missed Burr. And it has been reported that the senior Hamilton, who was present at his son's duel, advised him to miss on purpose. A mistake that the nations first Secretary of the Treasury apparently failed to learn from three years later.

  JOHN HANCOCK

  John Hancock was a very brilliant man having graduated from Harvard at the age of 17.

  * Hancock may have been the richest man in New England after he inherited a shipping fortune following the death of his Uncle.

  * Some have accused Hancock of being a criminal, a smuggler actually. Goods like tea that arrived in New England on Hancock’s ships may have avoided paying a duty. These suspicions led the British to seize Hancock’s ship, Liberty, which started a riot. John Adams got Hancock off the hook from the smuggling charges.

  MYTH BUSTER ALERT!

  Despite the lore it’s not true that Hancock's over sized signature on the Declaration of Independence was done to taunt the King of England. The legend goes that Hancock stated that “The fat old King could read it without his spectacles!” (Although numerous variations of Hancock's quote have been passed down through history – such as: “The British ministry can read that name without spectacles; let them double their reward.”)

  In reality, Hancock was the first to sign simply because he was the President of the Continental Congress. All the paintings you have seen with the other signers looking on is just another example of revisionist history. There was actually only one other person even in the room at the time Hancock put pen, or in this case quill, to paper. Meaning no one really knows what he said, if anything, and the fact the story didn't even originate until years later makes it all the more suspicious and unlikely.

  Hancock's signature was also printed and not signed on the parchment that would become the final Declaration we all know. The signature was applied on the document once the now iconic version was sent to the printer. It's also likely that the parchment Hancock signed was actually blank at the time. All this meaning that John Hancock didn't have an idea how big the type face would be and therefore no way to gauge how large to sign.

  Some historians also speculate part of the reason for Hancock signing a blank page might have been because his signature would have provided evidence of treason if things didn’t go so well in the war! (A concern other signers we're known to share).

  Another persistent myth is that the Declaration was signed by the delegates on July 4th, when in actuality signing for most of them did not even begin until August 2nd of that year, some believing possibly concluding some time in November.

  SAMUEL ADAMS

  Although commonly referred to as the “Father of America,” Adams was a failure in business. From 1756 to 1764, Adams worked as a tax collector. As tax rates mounted it became more difficult for the Colonists to pay up. As an advocate for the underprivileged, coupled with his poor business acumen, Adams often simply looked the other way.

  Although he would gain the affection of cash strapped taxpayers, he was in part responsible for the money issues the young republic faced. (Incidentally Adams became personally responsible for these debts, which of course he could not pay). Adam's financial struggles were not limited to his professional life as a tax collector. He struggled to manage his own money as well. As such the “Father of America” often saw his family languish near poverty.

  * Although Adam's was not near the top of the chain of command, he was often chosen to be the rebellious colonists spokesman. He was not a physically imposing man and he had a weak voice, but was said to move audiences by his sheer intellect and passion. Thomas Jefferson called him “Truly the man of the Revolution.”

  MYTH BUSTER ALERT!

  Despite popular lore, Sam Adam's did not brew beer. He did work for his fathers malt house which made malt that was then sold to breweries. After his fathers death, ole Sam took control of the family business and from this point on would never be as successful as when his father ran the operation. The image on bottles of “Sam Adam's” beers, is also not that of Adams. Adams hair turned gray early. He was also a sloppy dresser, and had dull washed out eyes. The Patriot that adorns the label of the popular brews is most likely that of another Patriot, Paul Revere.

  * Adams is credited as saying, “It does not take a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brush fires of freedom in the minds of men.”

  THOMAS PAINE

  Paine's Pamphlet, “Common Sense” remains one of the best selling books in American publishing history. In 1776 alone it sold over 100,000 copies. The writing laid the argument for American independence.

  * When Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence, he drew heavily on Paine's work.

  * Paine was also the first Patriot to use the phrase the “United States of America.”

  * Paine wrote the first volume of “The Age of Reason” - in which he makes an argument for deism - while in prison in 1793 during the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution. Paine had moved to France after the US Revolution and was eventually arrested for treason by the French. Apparently one revolution was not enough to quell his appetite for rebel rousing. (It's important to note that Paine was born British and at the time the French we're fighting England)

  * Paine was a devout atheist. He actually critiqued the Bible from memory. Meaning despite the critique, he likely read the book in it's entirety. A feat few Christians then, nor today, can claim to have accomplished.

  * While imprisoned in 1793 in France, (Apparently for treason although few details of the arrest are known) Paine narrowly escaped execution. In that day it was common for guards to chalk the doors of those who were condemned to die. And the day came when it was Paine's turn. However since he was suffering from a fever, guards agreed to keep his door open to allow fresh air into his room. (While he was waiting to be executed. Oh those mannered Frenchmen)

  As a result the door was chalked but on the inside. When it was later closed for the evening the guards on duty at that time missed the chalk cross that had been marked on Paine's door and so he narrowly escaped the guillotine. He was freed in 1794 thanks to the efforts of James Monroe then US Ambassador to France.

  * Only six people attended Thomas Paine's funeral in 1809. Due to his atheistic views and his condemnation of the Bible and organized religion many former friends and colleagues had turned their backs on Thomas Paine.

  * In 1964 the Mayor of Thetford-in-Norfolk, Paine's hometown, said he would only approve a statue of Paine if it was stamped with the words, “Convicted Traitor.” However the statue was eventually erected, sans the label and with Paine holding his book, “Rights of Man,” upside down, supposedly to get people taking about the often very controversial works of this very controversial American Patriot.

  PATRICK HENRY

  Like Sam Adams, Patrick Henry was not the most astute businessman. He failed running a store for his father and after a period of time tried growing tobacco, at which he also failed.

  * In 1758 after three years of drought which resulted in a low yield of tobacco crop, the Virginia assembly enacted the twopenny act. It fixed Anglican church minister salaries at two cents per pound of tobacco despite the market rate varying between four and six. A clergyman name James Maury sued Hanover county for damages. Henry defended the county against Maury's claims in a case that was to became known as the “Parsons Cause.”

  * Henry became known as a masterful orator. His he was effectively representing the American cause in the case of the Parsons Cause. He argued in favor of the twopenny act and compared the king of Britain who had vetoed the law, to a tyrant. He convinced the jury to grant the lowest possible award, one penny. The 1763 case developed Henry's reputation as a powerful and persuasive speaker. Parsons Cause is viewed as an important event leading to the American Revolution.

  * Patrick Henry is most famous for the speech he made in the
house of Burgesses in March 1775. The House was undecided on whether or not to prepare for military action against the encroaching British army. Speaking in favor of mobilization; Henry ended his famous speech with the now and immortalized words, “I know not what course others may take, but as for me give me liberty or give me death.”

  * Henry was instrumental in the adoption of the Bill of Rights of the Constitution. After the revolution he feared a strong national government was a threat to individual rights and that the President might become a king. He was a critic of the Constitution and was instrumental in having the Bill of Rights adopted to guarantee individual rights like freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the Press and more.

  * Patrick Henry was married twice, first in 1754 he married Sarah Shelton and she bore him six children. Unfortunately Sarah became ill and died in 1775. He remarried again at the age of 41 to 22-year-old Dorothea Dandridge. The couple had 11 children for a total of 17.

  GOUVERNEUR MORRIS

  Morris was an accomplished statesman that ushered in the idea of a person being a citizen of the union, not the individual states. As a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1787, he played a leading role, speaking more often than any other delegate and contributing substantially to the writing of the US Constitution.