What do these two men have in common?

John was born in Maryland in 1732. He studied law at The Temple in London, which was the finest education that a British man could receive. He joined the Pennsylvania Assembly in 1764, protested against the Stamp Acts, and joined the Stamp Act Congress. In 1775 he was a member of the Continental Congress and drafted a Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms, a forerunner of the Declaration of Independence. However, he was the least revolutionary member of the Congress, and worked tirelessly to temper the language of their documents, in hopes of reconciling with Great Britain. Nonetheless, he remained a patriot and fought in the Revolution. Following Independence, he was the head of the Delaware Assembly and then Governor of Pennsylvania, making him the only Founding Father to be chief executive of two different states. In 1787, he joined the Constitutional Convention and anonymously published the “Letters of Fabius” which are second only to the Federalist Papers in arguing for the need for a new Constitution. Once the Constitution was created, he created a similar document for Delaware, and then retired. Though today his is less known than some others, he is known as “The Penman of the Revolution.”

Robert was born into a wealthy family from the Hudson Valley in 1746. He attended Columbia University. Married a wealthy, powerful woman. Joined the growing independence movement. Was one of the “Committee of Five” (with Jefferson, Franklin, Adams and Sherman) who drew up the first draft of the Declaration of Independence. Lost his house to British fire in the Revolution. Rebuilt it as “the most commodious home” in America. From 1777 to 1801 he was Chancellor of New York, the highest judge in the state, from which he derived the common nickname, “The Chancellor.” In this role, he administered the oath of office to President George Washington, using his own bible. From 1801 to 1804, he was Minister to France, and negotiated the Louisiana Purchase. He developed the steam engine with Robert Fulton; the first steamboat’s home port was at his dock. He was the first Grand Master of the Freemasons of New York. When any Grand Master has been sworn in – as well as numerous U.S. Presidents – they have placed their right hand upon Robert’s bible.

These men – two of the richest, most powerful, most influential, and most admired members of their generation – did as much as anyone to create the United States, set the country’s earliest course, and put it on a path toward security and prosperity. But they also share another thing in common. They are the only two members of the Continental Congress who did NOT sign the Declaration of Independence. The document was approved on July 4, but it wasn’t until August 2 that most of the delegates signed it. By then, Robert R. Livingston had gone back to New York. Perhaps he was satisfied to have his first cousin Philip Livingston – whom the Livingstons now refer to as “The Signer” – represent the Livingston family on the document, but Robert never went back to add his own name, like other missing delegates did. As for John Dickinson of Delaware/Pennsylvania, at the time of the signing he still held out hope that the colonies could remain part of Great Britain. He refused to sign, and voluntarily left the Convention. He kept a lower profile for several years, during which time he decided to free his 37 slaves – an extraordinarily brave and provocative act – making him the only Founding Father to do so before the creation of the country. And his subsequent actions in the Revolution and in governing two states proved his patriotism and helped him regain his stature, and his reputation.

These two men poured much of their lives into the Declaration. Their signatures are not on it.  But their impact is all over it.