Who Was Charles Carroll?

Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Who in the world is Charles Carroll? Sadly, few Americans today know the answer to this question. Test your knowledge of this famous Founding Father by taking the following quiz!

• True or False: Charles Carroll was the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence.
• True or False: He was present for the vote on the Declaration of Independence.
• True or False: He was involved with a bill for the abolition of slavery in Maryland.
• True or False: He helped create a major railroad company in America.
• How many children did Carroll have?
• Charles Carroll was the only signer of the Declaration to be a member of what religious group?

Charles Carroll was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, helped draft the 1776 original constitution of Maryland, and was an original United States Senator where he helped frame the Bill of Rights.

At WallBuilders, we have a vast collection of historical documents, including several handwritten letters from Charles Carroll. In an interesting one from 1825 to Charles Wharton (an Episcopal clergyman), Carroll makes a very clear statement about his personal faith, declaring:

Too much of my time & attention have been misapplied on matters to which an impartial Judge, penetrating the secrets of hearts, before whom I shall soon appear, will ascribe merit deserving recompense. On the mercy of my redeemer I rely for salvation and on His merits; not on the works I have done in obedience to His precepts [Ephesians 2:8-9].

How did you do? Check your answers below!

• True: Charles Carroll died on November 14, 1832.
• False: The actual vote for the Declaration of Independence took place on July 4, 1776, but Carroll was not present for the vote.
• True: In December 1789, Charles Carroll was on the committee in the Maryland state senate who were instructed to confer on a bill for the “gradual abolition of slavery.” Carroll reported on behalf of the committee in favor of discussing this bill, but his recommendation was ignored and the bill did not pass.
• True: Charles Carroll helped establish the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company in 1828.
• Seven
• Catholic

*Originally Posted: Jan. 2, 2017