What were temperatures on 4th of July, 1776 during signing of Declaration of Independence?
Key Points:
- On July 4, 1776, Philadelphia experienced mild and pleasant weather, with temperatures ranging from 68°F in the morning to a breezy 76°F in the afternoon, much cooler than today's triple-digit heat in the Northeast.
- Thomas Jefferson, an avid weather recorder, noted the day's temperatures and took time to purchase a new thermometer from a local apothecary for the equivalent of about $600 today.
- Despite the historic significance of the day, Jefferson also attended to everyday tasks, buying women's gloves and donating to charity, highlighting that daily business continued amid revolutionary events.
- Jefferson was one of five men tasked with drafting the Declaration of Independence, writing most of the document in June 1776, which Congress officially adopted on July 4.
- After the adoption, printers distributed copies on July 5, and delegates formally signed the Declaration on August 2 under similarly pleasant summer weather, with Jefferson even treating himself to beers shortly after.