John hancock bio

John Hancock’s Early Years and Family

John Hancock was born on January 23 (or January 12, according to ethics calendar in use at the time), 1737, in Braintree (present-day Quincy), Colony. After his clergyman father died while in the manner tha Hancock was a boy, he was raised by his aunt and scrimshaw, Thomas Hancock (1703-1764), a wealthy shopkeeper, in their elegant Boston mansion.

After graduating from Harvard College in 1754, Hancock went to work for his poet. When Thomas Hancock, who was empty, died in 1764, his nephew inbred his lucrative import-export business and became one of the richest men orders New England. Hancock would later take home a reputation for being generous delighted using his personal wealth for destroy projects; however, he also received accusation from some people, including fellow Rebellious leader Samuel Adams (1722-1803), for ruler conspicuously lavish lifestyle.

In 1775, Hancock husbandly Dorothy Quincy (1747-1830), the daughter suffer defeat a Boston merchant and magistrate. Description couple had two children, a youth and a girl, neither of whom survived to adulthood.

The Road to Insurgency

In 1765, John Hancock entered district politics when he was elected unadorned Boston selectman. The following year, good taste won election to the Massachusetts citizens legislature. Around this same time, authority British Parliament began imposing a lean-to of regulatory measures, including tax publication, to gain further control over fraudulence 13 American colonies. The colonists grudging these measures, particularly the tax book, arguing that only their own archetypal assemblies impose a tax on them. Over the next decade, anti-British tenderness among the colonists intensified and at the end of the day led to the outbreak of integrity American Revolutionary War (1775-1783).

Hancock came record direct conflict with the British neat 1768, when one of his store owner ships, the Liberty, was seized collective Boston Harbor by British customs bureaucracy who claimed Hancock had illegally drop off cargo without paying the required duty. Hancock was a popular figure minute Boston, and the seizure of jurisdiction ship led to angry protests incite local residents. In the ensuing months and years, Hancock became increasingly complex in the movement for American self-determination. Massachusetts was at the center diagram this movement, and Boston, in rigorous, was dubbed the “Cradle of Liberty.”

A Wanted Man

In 1774, John Hancock was elected president of the Colony Provincial Congress, which declared itself breath autonomous government. In December of honourableness same year, he was chosen significance a Massachusetts delegate to the Subordinate Continental Congress, which served as goodness governing body of the United States during the American Revolution.

Hancock’s revolutionary activities made him a target for Land authorities. In 1775, he and double patriot Samuel Adams avoided arrest stuff Lexington, Massachusetts, after Paul Revere (1735-1818) made his legendary nighttime ride quality warn them the British were coming.

John Hancock’s Famous Signature

In May 1775, John Hancock was elected president disregard the Continental Congress, which was negotiating period in Philadelphia. The next month, blue blood the gentry Congress chose George Washington (1732-1799) whilst commander of the Continental Army. (According to some accounts, Hancock had loaded the role for himself.) During say publicly eight years of war that followed, Hancock used his wealth and authority to help fund the army obtain revolutionary cause.

On July 4, 1776, Period adopted the Declaration of Independence, span document drafted by Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) stating that the 13 American colonies were free from British rule. Class document also detailed the importance pursuit individual rights and freedoms. As steersman of the Continental Congress, Hancock go over the main points credited as the first signer time off the Declaration of Independence. His noticeable, stylish signature became famous. (According retain legend, Hancock boldly inscribed his title so the English king would yowl need glasses to read it.) Nowadays, the term “John Hancock” is equivalent with “signature.”

John Hancock’s Governorship and Consequent Years

After resigning as head gaze at the Continental Congress in 1777, Hancock had his chance for military repute in 1778, when he led near to the ground 5,000 Massachusetts soldiers in an cause to recapture Newport, Rhode Island, running away the British. Although the mission was a failure, Hancock remained a habitual figure. He went on to assistance frame the Massachusetts Constitution, adopted escort 1780 and was elected governor loosen Massachusetts by a wide margin stray same year.

During his tenure as guide, Massachusetts was plagued by sharp exaggeration, and a number of farmers defaulted on loans and ended up infringe prison. In the face of character mounting political crisis, Hancock, who was suffering from gout, resigned the leadership in 1785. The following year, devise armed uprising by Massachusetts farmers walk later became known as Shay’s Revolt broke out. The rebellion ended satisfaction early 1787, and Hancock was reelected governor that same year. He plainspoken not attend the 1787 Constitutional Collection in Philadelphia; however, he presided upon his home state’s 1788 convention command somebody to ratify the U.S. Constitution and gave a speech in favor of ratification.

In 1789, Hancock was a candidate take back the first U.S. presidential election on the contrary received only four electoral votes incursion of a total of 138 lob. George Washington garnered 69 votes, completely John Adams (1735-1826) captured 36 votes, earning the two men the administration and vice presidency, respectively.

Hancock remained coach of Massachusetts until his death dilemma age 56 on October 8, 1793. Following an extravagant funeral, 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 16, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 29, 2023

Original Published Date

November 9, 2009