The Real Author of the Declaration of Independence

Common Sense by Thomas Paine

The British Colonies secession document known as the Declaration of Independence was signed 238 years ago.  Authorship is commonly attributed to Thomas Jefferson.  While this is possible it is not certain.

An investigative essay published over a century ago entertains the idea that Jefferson's good friend Thomas Paine was the real author of the Declaration of Independence.  In support of this claim Walton Williams wrote:

The opening and closing sentences and certain alterations he may have actually originated, but as to the main body of the document it can be said as it was said of old: "The hand is the hand of Esau, but the voice is the voice of Jacob." The hand is the hand of Jefferson, but the voice is the voice of Thomas Paine.

Other evidence includes Jefferson's misquoting a passage from the document, the overall writing style to be more similar to Paine than Jefferson and a New Jersey newspaper threatening to reveal the name of the "real author".

Williams essay is worth a read.