Thomas Jefferson, Flies & the Declaration of Independence

The top portion of the original draft document written by Thomas Jefferson, with additions-deletions by John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. Click image for link to enlargement.

“While the question of Independence was before Congress, it had its meetings near a livery-stable. The members wore short breeches and silk stockings, and with handkerchief in hand, they were diligently employed in lashing the flies from their legs. So very vexatious was this annoyance, and so great an impatience did it arouse in the sufferers, that it hastened, if it did not aid, in inducing them to promptly affix their signatures to the great document which gave birth to an empire republic.

“This anecdote I had from Mr Jefferson in Monticello, who seemed to enjoy it very much, as well as to give great credit to the influence of the flies. He told it with much glee, and seemed to retain a vivid recollection of an attack, from which the only relief was signing the paper and flying from the scene.”

—Sarah Randolph, The Domestic Life of Thomas Jefferson (1871)