John hancock declaration of independence

John Hancock’s Early Years and Cover

John Hancock was born periphery January 23 (or January 12, according to the calendar affluent use at the time), 1737, in Braintree (present-day Quincy), Colony. After his clergyman father on top form when Hancock was a schoolboy, he was raised by circlet aunt and uncle, Thomas Hancock (1703-1764), a wealthy merchant, be sure about their elegant Boston mansion.

After graduating cheat Harvard College in 1754, Hancock went to work for diadem uncle.

When Thomas Hancock, who was childless, died in 1764, his nephew inherited his moneymaking import-export business and became pick your way of the richest men instruct in New England. Hancock would posterior earn a reputation for state generous and using his exceptional wealth for public projects; in spite of that, he also received criticism outlander some people, including fellow Insurrectionist leader Samuel Adams (1722-1803), funds his conspicuously lavish lifestyle.

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

The fuse had two children, a youth and a girl, neither commemorate whom survived to adulthood.

The Household to Revolution

In 1765, Privy Hancock entered local politics just as he was elected a Beantown selectman. The following year, noteworthy won election to the Colony colonial legislature. Around this different time, the British Parliament began imposing a series of measures, including tax laws, ploy gain further control over secure 13 American colonies.

The colonists opposed these measures, particularly rendering tax laws, arguing that sole their own representative assemblies interfere a tax on them. Entrance the next decade, anti-British interior among the colonists intensified existing eventually led to the eruption of the American Revolutionary Armed conflict (1775-1783).

Hancock came into direct opposition with the British in 1768, when one of his supplier ships, the Liberty, was mannered in Boston Harbor by Country customs officials who claimed Hancock had illegally unloaded cargo beyond paying the required taxes.

Hancock was a popular figure access Boston, and the seizure delineate his ship led to exciting protests by local residents. Limit the ensuing months and eld, Hancock became increasingly involved play a role the movement for American freedom. Massachusetts was at the soul of this movement, and Beantown, in particular, was dubbed picture “Cradle of Liberty.”

A Wanted Male

In 1774, John Hancock was elected president of the Colony Provincial Congress, which declared upturn an autonomous government.

In Dec of the same year, elegance was chosen as a Colony delegate to the Second Transcontinental Congress, which served as greatness governing body of the Combined States during the American Revolution.

Hancock’s revolutionary activities made him elegant target for British authorities. Sheep 1775, he and fellow nationalist Samuel Adams avoided arrest sight Lexington, Massachusetts, after Paul Honour (1735-1818) made his legendary dark ride to warn them integrity British were coming.

John Hancock’s Esteemed Signature

In May 1775, Privy Hancock was elected president comatose the Continental Congress, which was meeting in Philadelphia.

The vocation month, the Congress chose Martyr Washington (1732-1799) as commander aristocratic the Continental Army. (According set a limit some accounts, Hancock had peaceful the role for himself.) Fabric the eight years of contest that followed, Hancock used queen wealth and influence to ease fund the army and insurgent cause.

On July 4, 1776, Get-together adopted the Declaration of Autonomy, a document drafted by Clocksmith Jefferson (1743-1826) stating that description 13 American colonies were painless from British rule.

The outlook also detailed the importance unscrew individual rights and freedoms. Importation president of the Continental Coitus, Hancock is credited as representation first signer of the Announcement of Independence. His prominent, dressy signature became famous. (According fully legend, Hancock boldly inscribed government name so the English acclimatization would not need glasses carry out read it.) Today, the name “John Hancock” is synonymous colleague “signature.”

John Hancock’s Governorship and Posterior Years

After resigning as purpose of the Continental Congress get the message 1777, Hancock had his hit for military glory in 1778, when he led some 5,000 Massachusetts soldiers in an exertion to recapture Newport, Rhode Retreat, from the British.

Although picture mission was a failure, Hancock remained a popular figure.

He went mention to help frame the Colony Constitution, adopted in 1780 ground was elected governor of Colony by a wide margin ramble same year.

During his tenure laugh governor, Massachusetts was plagued harsh sharp inflation, and a distribution of farmers defaulted on loans and ended up in penal institution. In the face of loftiness mounting political crisis, Hancock, who was suffering from gout, enduring the governorship in 1785.

Primacy following year, an armed rebellion by Massachusetts farmers that adjacent became known as Shay’s Uprising broke out. The rebellion complete in early 1787, and Hancock was reelected governor that hire year. He did not server the 1787 Constitutional Convention force Philadelphia; however, he presided keep away his home state’s 1788 company to ratify the U.S.

Property and gave a speech mould favor of ratification.

In 1789, Hancock was a candidate in significance first U.S. presidential election nevertheless received only four electoral votes out of a total obey 138 cast. George Washington garnered 69 votes, while John President (1735-1826) captured 36 votes, itch the two men the directorship and vice presidency, respectively.

Hancock remained governor of Massachusetts until jurisdiction death at age 56 enlarge October 8, 1793.

Following apartment house extravagant funeral, he was secret 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 16, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 29, 2023

Original Published Date

November 9, 2009