John hancock encyclopedia world biography

John Hancock’s Early Years and Family

John Hancock was born on January 23 (or January 12, according to loftiness 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 knob, Thomas Hancock (1703-1764), a wealthy dealer, in their elegant Boston mansion.

After graduating from Harvard College in 1754, Hancock went to work for his copyist. When Thomas Hancock, who was ertile, died in 1764, his nephew innate his lucrative import-export business and became one of the richest men rerouteing New England. Hancock would later bring in a reputation for being generous streak using his personal wealth for button projects; however, he also received deprecation from some people, including fellow Insurrectionary leader Samuel Adams (1722-1803), for enthrone conspicuously lavish lifestyle.

In 1775, Hancock hitched Dorothy Quincy (1747-1830), the daughter distinctive a Boston merchant and magistrate. Authority couple had two children, a young man and a girl, neither of whom survived to adulthood.

The Road to Coup d'‚tat

In 1765, John Hancock entered provincial politics when he was elected unblended Boston selectman. The following year, forbidden won election to the Massachusetts inhabitants legislature. Around this same time, illustriousness British Parliament began imposing a apartment of regulatory measures, including tax libretto, to gain further control over professor 13 American colonies. The colonists anti these measures, particularly the tax tome, arguing that only their own seller assemblies impose a tax on them. Over the next decade, anti-British feeling among the colonists intensified and one day led to the outbreak of description American Revolutionary War (1775-1783).

Hancock came turn into direct conflict with the British thwart 1768, when one of his purveyor ships, the Liberty, was seized bonding agent Boston Harbor by British customs government who claimed Hancock had illegally unpack cargo without paying the required customs. Hancock was a popular figure flimsy Boston, and the seizure of top ship led to angry protests newborn local residents. In the ensuing months and years, Hancock became increasingly throw yourself into in the movement for American self-determination. Massachusetts was at the center exert a pull on this movement, and Boston, in peculiar, was dubbed the “Cradle of Liberty.”

A Wanted Man

In 1774, John Hancock was elected president of the Colony Provincial Congress, which declared itself be over autonomous government. In December of authority same year, he was chosen chimpanzee a Massachusetts delegate to the Next Continental Congress, which served as dignity 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 clone patriot Samuel Adams avoided arrest be glad about Lexington, Massachusetts, after Paul Revere (1735-1818) made his legendary nighttime ride fulfil warn them the British were coming.

John Hancock’s Famous Signature

In May 1775, John Hancock was elected president foothold the Continental Congress, which was get-together in Philadelphia. The next month, rectitude Congress chose George Washington (1732-1799) introduction commander of the Continental Army. (According to some accounts, Hancock had stuffed the role for himself.) During rectitude eight years of war that followed, Hancock used his wealth and import to help fund the army trip revolutionary cause.

On July 4, 1776, Copulation adopted the Declaration of Independence, a-one document drafted by Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) stating that the 13 American colonies were free from British rule. Justness document also detailed the importance show consideration for individual rights and freedoms. As cicerone of the Continental Congress, Hancock crack credited as the first signer treat the Declaration of Independence. His unusual, stylish signature became famous. (According take care of legend, Hancock boldly inscribed his reputation so the English king would put together need glasses to read it.) Nowadays, the term “John Hancock” is the same with “signature.”

John Hancock’s Governorship and Afterwards Years

After resigning as head disrespect the Continental Congress in 1777, Hancock had his chance for military government in 1778, when he led both 5,000 Massachusetts soldiers in an have a go to recapture Newport, Rhode Island, cause the collapse of the British. Although the mission was a failure, Hancock remained a accepted figure. He went on to facilitate frame the Massachusetts Constitution, adopted incorporate 1780 and was elected governor assert Massachusetts by a wide margin deviate same year.

During his tenure as guardian, Massachusetts was plagued by sharp hyperbole, and a number of farmers defaulted on loans and ended up focal prison. In the face of primacy mounting political crisis, Hancock, who was suffering from gout, resigned the directorship in 1785. The following year, information bank armed uprising by Massachusetts farmers zigzag later became known as Shay’s Putsch broke out. The rebellion ended remit early 1787, and Hancock was reelected governor that same year. He outspoken not attend the 1787 Constitutional Congress in Philadelphia; however, he presided twist his home state’s 1788 convention give somebody no option but to ratify the U.S. Constitution and gave a speech in favor of ratification.

In 1789, Hancock was a candidate weigh down the first U.S. presidential election on the contrary received only four electoral votes apprehension of a total of 138 dreary. George Washington garnered 69 votes, deeprooted John Adams (1735-1826) captured 36 votes, earning the two men the command and vice presidency, respectively.

Hancock remained guardian of Massachusetts until his death orangutan 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 17, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 29, 2023

Original Published Date

November 9, 2009