Jonah Patel
John Hancock is best known for his signature on the United States Declaration of Independence, which has made John Hancock a colloquial term for a person's signature. Born in Braintree, Massachusetts, in 1737, Hancock was orphaned as a child and adopted by his wealthy merchant uncle. He graduated from Harvard at the age of 17 and went on to become one of the richest men in the Thirteen Colonies. He played a significant role in the American Revolution, using his influence to support the movement for American independence. Hancock was the president of the Second Continental Congress when the Declaration of Independence was adopted and signed in 1776. He also signed the Articles of Confederation and played a key role in ensuring that Massachusetts ratified the United States Constitution in 1788. At the time of the signing of the Constitution, Hancock was in his early 50s.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 12 or 23 January 1737 |
| Birthplace | Braintree (present-day Quincy), Massachusetts |
| Age when signing the Declaration of Independence | 39 |
| Year of signing the Declaration of Independence | 1776 |
| Role in signing the Declaration of Independence | President of the Continental Congress and first signer |
| Other notable roles | Governor of Massachusetts, member of the Continental Congress, member of the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention, president of the Second Continental Congress |
| Death | 8 October 1793 |
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What You'll Learn
John Hancock's signature on the Declaration of Independence
John Hancock is best known for his signature on the Declaration of Independence. He was the first signer of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, when he was 39 years old. His prominent, stylish, flamboyant, and easily recognizable signature became famous. According to legend, Hancock boldly inscribed his name so that King George III of England would not need his spectacles to read it. However, this story is apocryphal and originated years later. In reality, Hancock was the first to sign in a manner fitting for the president of the Continental Congress, and only one other person was in the room when he signed it.
Hancock was born in Braintree, Massachusetts, in 1737. He was orphaned as a child and adopted by his wealthy merchant uncle, Thomas Hancock, with whom he later apprenticed as a clerk. He graduated from Harvard College at the age of 17 and proved so honest and capable that he was sent on a business mission to England in 1760. There, he witnessed the coronation of King George III. After his uncle's death in 1764, Hancock inherited his lucrative import-export business and became one of the richest men in New England.
Hancock was a leading figure during the Revolutionary War and played an instrumental role in the American Revolution. He was a member of the Continental Congress from 1775 to 1780 and served as its president from May 1775 to October 1777. He was also a member of the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention of 1780 and was elected governor of Massachusetts that same year, serving until 1785. He was re-elected governor in 1787 and served until his death in 1793.
Hancock's signature on the Declaration of Independence has become synonymous with the term "John Hancock" in the United States, which is now used as an informal synonym for a person's signature.
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John Hancock's age when he signed the Declaration of Independence
John Hancock was 39 years old when he signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Hancock, who was born in 1737, is best known for his large and flamboyant signature on the document. He was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence, and his signature became so famous that, in the United States, "John Hancock" became an informal synonym for a person's signature.
Hancock was the president of the Continental Congress when the Declaration of Independence was adopted and signed. He was a prominent figure during the American Revolution and played an instrumental role in coaxing the revolution. He was a leading political figure in Boston and a member of the Continental Congress from 1775 to 1780, serving as its president from May 1775 to October 1777. He resigned as head of the Continental Congress in 1777 due to gout and returned to Massachusetts, where he continued his public service.
Hancock was a wealthy man, having inherited his fortune from his uncle, a wealthy Boston merchant. He used his wealth and influence to aid the movement for American independence. He was also a member of the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention of 1780 and was elected governor of the state that same year, serving for most of the remaining years of his life. He was immensely popular in his home state and was reelected governor in 1787, serving until his death in 1793.
Hancock was a candidate in the 1789 U.S. presidential election but received only four electoral votes. Despite his poor health, he may have been interested in the vice presidency. He was not in the Massachusetts delegation at the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia due to health issues, but he played a crucial role in his state's ratification of the Constitution. He gave a speech in favour of ratification and used his influence to ensure that Massachusetts ratified the United States Constitution in 1788.
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John Hancock's role in the American Revolution
John Hancock was born in Braintree, Massachusetts, on January 23, 1737. He was 39 years old when he signed the United States Declaration of Independence in 1776.
Hancock was a prominent Patriot leader and statesman during the American Revolution. He was a vocal opponent of British colonial policies in the 1760s and participated in boycotts and resistance movements, such as those against the Stamp Act and the Townshend Acts. Hancock's business became a political flashpoint in 1768 when British customs officials seized one of his ships, the Liberty, on suspicion of smuggling. While the charges were eventually dropped, the incident solidified Hancock's position among the revolutionaries.
Hancock was also a leading political figure in Boston and served as president of the Second Continental Congress from 1775 to 1777. In this role, he oversaw the creation and signing of the Declaration of Independence, becoming the first to sign the document with a large and flamboyant signature. He is remembered primarily for this signature, which has led to "John Hancock" becoming a colloquialism for a person's signature in the United States.
Hancock was a member of the Continental Congress from 1775 to 1780 and served as its president during the critical period leading up to and following the Declaration of Independence. He also served as the first and third governor of Massachusetts, a role he held from 1780 to 1785 and again from 1789 until his death in 1793. He was a member of the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention and played an influential role in the adoption of the federal Constitution in 1787 and its ratification in 1788.
Hancock's role in the American Revolution extended beyond politics, as he also commanded state forces in Massachusetts and led men in combat. He was a senior major general of the Massachusetts militia and nominally commanded 6,000 militiamen in a campaign against the British garrison at Newport, Rhode Island, in 1778. Despite facing criticism for the outcome of this campaign, Hancock's reputation flourished due to his philanthropy during and after the war.
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John Hancock's political career
John Hancock was an American Founding Father, merchant, statesman, and prominent Patriot of the American Revolution. He was born on January 23, 1737, in Braintree (present-day Quincy), Massachusetts.
Hancock's political career began in 1765 when he was elected as one of Boston's five selectmen. The following year, he won election to the Massachusetts colonial legislature. Hancock was a leading political figure in Boston as tensions with Great Britain increased. He was also one of the wealthiest men in the Thirteen Colonies, having inherited a profitable mercantile business from his uncle.
In 1774 and 1775, Hancock was president of the first and second provincial congresses, and he shared the leadership of the Massachusetts Patriots with Samuel Adams. In 1775, he became a member of the Continental Congress and was elected its president, serving from 1775 to 1777. He is famous for his large and flamboyant signature on the United States Declaration of Independence, which was adopted during his presidency.
Hancock resigned as head of the Continental Congress in 1777 and subsequently led about 5,000-6,000 Massachusetts soldiers in an unsuccessful attempt to recapture Newport, Rhode Island, from the British. Despite the failure of this mission, Hancock remained a popular figure. He helped frame the Massachusetts Constitution, which was adopted in 1780, and was then elected as the first governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with over 90% of the vote.
Hancock resigned the governorship in 1785 due to a political crisis caused by sharp inflation and farmers defaulting on loans. However, he was re-elected governor in 1787 and served until his death in 1793. During his time as governor, he used his influence to ensure that Massachusetts ratified the United States Constitution in 1788. He was also a member of the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention of 1780 and served in Congress under the Articles of Confederation in 1785-86.
Hancock was put forth as a candidate in the 1789 U.S. presidential election, but he received only four electoral votes. He was not openly campaigning for the office, as political ambition was viewed with suspicion at the time.
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John Hancock's personal life
John Hancock was born on January 23, 1737, in Braintree, Massachusetts. He was the son and grandson of ministers and was expected to follow in their footsteps. However, his life took an unexpected turn when his father passed away when he was seven years old. After his father's death, Hancock moved to Lexington, Massachusetts, to live with his grandparents.
Hancock's stay with his grandparents was brief, as his grandfather wanted him to have a better education and made arrangements for him to live with his wealthy uncle, Thomas Hancock, in Boston. Thomas Hancock was a successful merchant and had no children of his own. John Hancock attended Boston Latin School and later graduated from Harvard in 1754 at the young age of 17.
Instead of pursuing a career in the ministry, Hancock chose to join his uncle's mercantile business in Boston. In 1764, he inherited his uncle's lucrative business and became one of the wealthiest men in the Thirteen Colonies. Hancock was also elected as one of Boston's selectmen in 1765, marking the beginning of his political career. He leveraged his wealth and influence to support the American Revolution, despite his initial reluctance to embrace the idea of revolution.
Hancock played a significant role in the Continental Congress, serving as its president from 1775 to 1777. He was a leading figure during the Revolutionary War and is best known for his large and flamboyant signature on the United States Declaration of Independence. He also served as the first and third governor of Massachusetts and was a candidate in the 1789 U.S. presidential election. John Hancock passed away on October 8, 1793, at the age of 56, while serving his ninth term as governor.
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Frequently asked questions
John Hancock was 39 years old when he signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
No, John Hancock did not sign the US Constitution. He was not present at the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia due to health issues. However, he played a crucial role in ensuring that Massachusetts ratified the Constitution in 1788.
John Hancock's signature on the Declaration of Independence was large, flamboyant, and easily recognizable. According to legend, he signed his name in a bold and clear manner so that King George could read it without spectacles.
John Hancock signed the Articles of Confederation in 1778 and was involved in framing the Massachusetts Constitution, which was adopted in 1780. He also served as the governor of Massachusetts multiple times.
