29. Jonathan Dayton was the youngest signer of the Constitution
Jonathan Dayton was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention from New Jersey, a veteran of the Continental Army, and a speculator in the lands west of the Ohio River in the years following the war. In 1807 the rising political star was charged with treason after lending money to Aaron Burr, as part of the Burr Conspiracy. Though Dayton was never brought to trial the incident destroyed his political career, which at one point included consideration of him serving on the Supreme Court, as well as discussion of presidential ambitions. Dayton returned to New Jersey where he entered local politics. Though the city of Dayton, Ohio was named for him, he never saw the area or the other lands he purchased throughout the Ohio country as one of the largest early investors in western lands.
