Who Signed the Treaty of Paris?

By Anna Duncan

The Treaty of Paris is one of the most significant historical documents in American history. It formally ended the American Revolutionary War and recognized the United States as a sovereign nation.

But who were the signatories of this important document? Let’s take a closer look.

Background

Before we dive into the signatories, let’s provide some context. The Treaty of Paris was signed on September 3, 1783, in Paris, France. The document was negotiated by representatives from Great Britain and the United States, with John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay representing America.

The British Signatories

The first signatory on the Treaty of Paris was David Hartley. He was a member of British Parliament who had been appointed to negotiate peace with America. Hartley had sympathies towards the American cause and had previously attempted to introduce legislation in Parliament that would have recognized American independence.

The second British signatory was Richard Oswald. He had previously attempted to negotiate with Franklin in 1778 but was unsuccessful. Oswald was chosen again due to his experience as a merchant and his connections within the government.

The American Signatories

As mentioned earlier, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay were key negotiators for America during the Treaty of Paris negotiations.

John Adams was a delegate from Massachusetts who had served as an ambassador to France during the war. He later became the second president of the United States.

Benjamin Franklin was also a delegate from Massachusetts but spent much of his time in France during the war negotiating for support from European nations. He is perhaps best known for his experiments with electricity and inventions such as bifocal glasses and lightning rods.

John Jay was a delegate from New York who later served as Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. He negotiated several treaties with Great Britain throughout his career.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Treaty of Paris was signed by British negotiators David Hartley and Richard Oswald, as well as American negotiators John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay. These men worked tirelessly to secure peace and independence for America, and their efforts paved the way for the nation we know today.