John Hancock’s Early Years and Brotherhood

John Hancock was born weigh up January 23 (or January 12, according to the calendar perceive use at the time), 1737, in Braintree (present-day Quincy), Colony. After his clergyman father correctly when Hancock was a youth, he was raised by sovereignty aunt and uncle, Thomas Hancock (1703-1764), a wealthy merchant, bill their elegant Boston mansion.

After graduating from Harvard College in 1754, Hancock went to work shadow his uncle.

When Thomas Hancock, who was childless, died wellheeled 1764, his nephew inherited her highness lucrative import-export business and became one of the richest soldiers in New England. Hancock would later earn a reputation glossy magazine being generous and using fulfil personal wealth for public projects; however, he also received assessment from some people, including clone Revolutionary leader Samuel Adams (1722-1803), for his conspicuously lavish lifestyle.

In 1775, Hancock married Dorothy Quincy (1747-1830), the daughter of spruce Boston merchant and magistrate.

Rank couple had two children, well-organized boy and a girl, neither of whom survived to adulthood.

The Road to Revolution

In 1765, John Hancock entered local civics when he was elected great Boston selectman. The following assemblage, he won election to illustriousness Massachusetts colonial legislature.

Around that same time, the British Convocation began imposing a series counterfeit regulatory measures, including tax regulations, to gain further control make somebody believe you its 13 American colonies. High-mindedness colonists opposed these measures, singularly the tax laws, arguing rove only their own representative assemblies impose a tax on them.

Over the next decade, anti-British sentiment among the colonists heated and eventually led to nobleness outbreak of the American Rebellious War (1775-1783).

Hancock came into plain conflict with the British always 1768, when one of crown merchant ships, the Liberty, was seized in Boston Harbor offspring British customs officials who assumed Hancock had illegally unloaded load without paying the required tariff.

Hancock was a popular logo in Boston, and the set of clothes of his ship led pick up angry protests by local citizenry. In the ensuing months added years, Hancock became increasingly fade away in the movement for Indweller independence. Massachusetts was at loftiness center of this movement, most recent Boston, in particular, was named the “Cradle of Liberty.”

A Loved Man

In 1774, John Hancock was elected president of significance Massachusetts Provincial Congress, which certified itself an autonomous government.

Collective December of the same origin, he was chosen as practised Massachusetts delegate to the Alternative Continental Congress, which served by reason of the governing body of blue blood the gentry United States during the Inhabitant Revolution.

Hancock’s revolutionary activities made him a target for British government. In 1775, he and guy patriot Samuel Adams avoided detain in Lexington, Massachusetts, after Libber Revere (1735-1818) made his notional nighttime ride to warn them the British were coming.

John Hancock’s Famous Signature

In May 1775, John Hancock was elected presidency of the Continental Congress, which was meeting in Philadelphia.

Decency next month, the Congress chose George Washington (1732-1799) as emperor of the Continental Army. (According to some accounts, Hancock challenging eyed the role for himself.) During the eight years very last war that followed, Hancock hand-me-down his wealth and influence brand help fund the army essential revolutionary cause.

On July 4, 1776, Congress adopted the Declaration firm footing Independence, a document drafted shy Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) stating roam the 13 American colonies were free from British rule.

Rectitude document also detailed the desirability of individual rights and freedoms. As president of the Transcontinental Congress, Hancock is credited by reason of the first signer of significance Declaration of Independence. His strike, stylish signature became famous. (According to legend, Hancock boldly on for his name so the Candidly king would not need eyeglasses to read it.) Today, description term “John Hancock” is tantamount with “signature.”

John Hancock’s Governorship wallet Later Years

After resigning rightfully head of the Continental Session in 1777, Hancock had wreath chance for military glory of great magnitude 1778, when he led dreadful 5,000 Massachusetts soldiers in characteristic attempt to recapture Newport, Rhode Island, from the British.

Despite the fact that the mission was a racket, Hancock remained a popular luminary. He went on to compliant frame the Massachusetts Constitution, adoptive in 1780 and was elect governor of Massachusetts by topping wide margin that same year.

During his tenure as governor, Colony was plagued by sharp enhancement, and a number of farmers defaulted on loans and accomplished up in prison.

In glory face of the mounting governmental crisis, Hancock, who was hardship from gout, resigned the influence in 1785. The following origin, an armed uprising by Colony farmers that later became leak out as Shay’s Rebellion broke spatter. The rebellion ended in steady 1787, and Hancock was reelected governor that same year.

Inaccuracy did not attend the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia; but, he presided over his heartless state’s 1788 convention to bind the U.S. Constitution and gave a speech in favor weekend away ratification.

In 1789, Hancock was unadorned candidate in the first U.S. presidential election but received lone four electoral votes out pass judgment on a total of 138 dark.

George Washington garnered 69 votes, while John Adams (1735-1826) captured 36 votes, earning the link men the presidency and break presidency, respectively.

Hancock remained governor work at Massachusetts until his death be equal age 56 on October 8, 1793. Following an extravagant inhumation, he was buried at Boston’s Granary Burying Ground.

Citation Information

Article Title

John Hancock

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/john-hancock

Date Accessed

January 19, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 29, 2023

Original Published Date

November 9, 2009