As a prominent Catholic in colonial Maryland, according to the law, Charles Carroll was unable to vote, hold office, or present a case in a court of law. But all that changed in the years before the American Revolution. Charles proved himself a loyal patriot and through his vigorous defense of the rights of the colonists, moved along the cause of both religious and political freedom. He earned such respect in Maryland that he was chosen to attend the Continental Congress at which he became the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence. During the War, he worked to obtain military aid from France and defended Washington's command of the army to the Congress. After the War he was elected to both the Maryland Senate and the United States Senate. He lived to the age of 96, the longest living signer of the Declaration. He was so highly regarded in the infant country that such was said of him: "No man was fonder of doing a good action, and certainly, none could do it with a better grace."
