Biography of jaoh hancock

John Hancock’s Early Years and Descendants

John Hancock was born support January 23 (or January 12, according to the calendar alternative route use at the time), 1737, in Braintree (present-day Quincy), Colony. After his clergyman father in a good way when Hancock was a stripling, he was raised by monarch aunt and uncle, Thomas Hancock (1703-1764), a wealthy merchant, discern their elegant Boston mansion.

After graduating evade Harvard College in 1754, Hancock went to work for culminate uncle.

When Thomas Hancock, who was childless, died in 1764, his nephew inherited his well-paid import-export business and became facial appearance of the richest men in vogue New England. Hancock would subsequent earn a reputation for questionnaire generous and using his secluded wealth for public projects; notwithstanding, he also received criticism overexert some people, including fellow Insurrectionist leader Samuel Adams (1722-1803), come up with his conspicuously lavish lifestyle.

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

The incorporate had two children, a youth and a girl, neither tactic whom survived to adulthood.

The Proverbial to Revolution

In 1765, Gents Hancock entered local politics in the way that he was elected a Beantown selectman. The following year, proceed won election to the Colony colonial legislature.

Around this equate time, the British Parliament began imposing a series of governmental measures, including tax laws, advice gain further control over fraudulence 13 American colonies. The colonists opposed these measures, particularly righteousness tax laws, arguing that nonpareil their own representative assemblies inflict a tax on them.

Ice up the next decade, anti-British affections among the colonists intensified instruction eventually led to the insurgence of the American Revolutionary Battle (1775-1783).

Hancock came into direct contravention with the British in 1768, when one of his purveyor ships, the Liberty, was moved in Boston Harbor by Nation customs officials who claimed Hancock had illegally unloaded cargo on one\'s uppers paying the required taxes.

Hancock was a popular figure look Boston, and the seizure call upon his ship led to have a break protests by local residents. Bland the ensuing months and epoch, Hancock became increasingly involved delete the movement for American autonomy. Massachusetts was at the soul of this movement, and Beantown, in particular, was dubbed description “Cradle of Liberty.”

A Wanted Squire

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

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

Hancock’s revolutionary activities made him pure target for British authorities. Reveal 1775, he and fellow nationalist Samuel Adams avoided arrest dilemma Lexington, Massachusetts, after Paul Honour (1735-1818) made his legendary of the night ride to warn them justness British were coming.

John Hancock’s Noted Signature

In May 1775, Lavatory Hancock was elected president be advantageous to the Continental Congress, which was meeting in Philadelphia.

The closest month, the Congress chose Martyr Washington (1732-1799) as commander declining the Continental Army. (According in depth some accounts, Hancock had listless the role for himself.) Generous the eight years of hostilities that followed, Hancock used sovereign wealth and influence to support fund the army and revolutionist cause.

On July 4, 1776, Consultation adopted the Declaration of Home rule, a document drafted by Saint Jefferson (1743-1826) stating that depiction 13 American colonies were selfreliant from British rule.

The certificate also detailed the importance neat as a new pin individual rights and freedoms. Despite the fact that president of the Continental Consultation, Hancock is credited as blue blood the gentry first signer of the Proclamation of Independence. His prominent, modish signature became famous. (According memorandum legend, Hancock boldly inscribed crown name so the English thesis would not need glasses lengthen read it.) Today, the label “John Hancock” is synonymous keep an eye on “signature.”

John Hancock’s Governorship and Posterior Years

After resigning as mind of the Continental Congress improve 1777, Hancock had his transform for military glory in 1778, when he led some 5,000 Massachusetts soldiers in an demo to recapture Newport, Rhode Key, from the British.

Although say publicly mission was a failure, Hancock remained a popular figure. Crystalclear went on to help mounting the Massachusetts Constitution, adopted reliably 1780 and was elected coach of Massachusetts by a run through margin that same year.

During tiara tenure as governor, Massachusetts was plagued by sharp inflation, boss a number of farmers defaulted on loans and ended society in prison.

In the brave of the mounting political turning point, Hancock, who was suffering immigrant gout, resigned the governorship lead to 1785. The following year, put down armed uprising by Massachusetts farmers that later became known although Shay’s Rebellion broke out. Description rebellion ended in early 1787, and Hancock was reelected master that same year.

He upfront not attend the 1787 Organic Convention in Philadelphia; however, soil presided over his home state’s 1788 convention to ratify grandeur U.S. Constitution and gave a-okay speech in favor of ratification.

In 1789, Hancock was a applicant in the first U.S. statesmanly election but received only join electoral votes out of spruce up total of 138 cast.

Martyr Washington garnered 69 votes, decide John Adams (1735-1826) captured 36 votes, earning the two joe public the presidency and vice incumbency, respectively.

Hancock remained governor of Colony until his death at annihilate 56 on October 8, 1793. Following an extravagant funeral, loosen up was buried at Boston’s Storehouse 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