The surprising ages of the Founding Fathers on July 4, 1776

kottke.org ^ | August 13, 2013 | Todd Andrlik

[NYer]

Of possible interest to your list, ping!

[Tijeras_Slim]

of interest

[gorush]

Ping...and thanks.

[freedumb2003]

Wow!

I don’t trust 30 year olds in my industry to do more than transcribe what I tell them (and, of course, to wash my car).

[DocRock]

Col. Peter Muhlenberg was only 29.

[JRandomFreeper]

He was shot in the face, bayoneted thirteen times, and left for dead in a pool of blood. He was found alive, trying to load his musket to fight again. He was taken to Dr. Cotton Tufts of Medford, who perceived no hope for his survival. However, Whittemore lived another 18 years until dying of natural causes at the age of 98.

A role model I can look up to.

/johnny

[TBP]

Interesting how young they all were. Even Adams, who was one of the older ones (and the most fervent proponent of independence.)

[cripplecreek]

While not a founder, Andrew Jackson fought in the war at 13 and was a POW with his brother.

[ConradofMontferrat]

I don’t know why this “surprises” people.

The average life span in the late 18th C. was about 30 or so.

Folks didn’t live in their momma’s basement until 35.

A lot of people were accomplished by their early 20s.

Napoleon burst on the scene in Europe at the ripe old age of 26. And on and on.

I don’t know why this is so surprising.

[oldbrowser]

People matured earlier back then.

[mountainlion]

A first cousin 7 times removed died at age 31 on August 27,1776 in the battle of Long Island.

[sauropod]

Ditto.

I’ve always been impressed by his courage.

[ConservativeMan55]

bttt

[Sirius Lee]

In WWII there were a plethora of Colonels in their mid 20’s. Today, not so much.

[cripplecreek]

My male relatives from back then often lived into their 70s 80s. They did however go through 2 or 3 wives who had a dozen children.

[afraidfortherepublic]

You may be interested in this.

[The Truth Will Make You Free]

I just saw a fascinating show on Lafayette last night. I had no idea the contributions he made to American liberty, the French Revolution, and the 50 year anniversary celebration of the American Revolution. He was close to George Washington and even named his son "George Washington Lafayette". See Lafayette: The Lost Hero

[cripplecreek]

Reading the history of my grandfather’s WWII antiaircraft battalion and I noticed they called one of their officers “the Old Man” and he was in his 30s. My grandfather was 19 in 44.

[MHGinTN]

Shot in the face, bayonetted thirteen times ... still trying to load his musket and lives 18 more years ... uh huh, that’s what happens when you piss off a working man/farmer.