John Morton signs the Declaration of Independence

John Morton was serving as a congressman for his home state of Pennsylvania when the American colonies seceded from the British Empire.

Morton is said to have arrived late for the historic meeting of the congress but to have been allowed to vote nevertheless. He voted in favor of independence, breaking the tie for Pennsylvania and swinging the vote in favor of independence, thus contributing to birth of the United States of America.

The U.S. Declaration of Independence is considered the most famous document in the world. John Morton’s signature can be found at the bottom of the Declaration, among those of Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock and other great men. Thus, Morton counts as one of the esteemed founding fathers of the nation.

John Morton died about a year after the Declaration was signed. He was the first of the signatories to pass on.