John Hancock was a Founding Father of the United States of America. In August of the same year, he wed Dorothy Quincy, who came from a merchant family as well. In 1770, five people were killed during the Boston Massacre, and Hancock led a call for the removal of British troops from the city. Change ). Their escape happened before the revolutionary Battles of Concord and Lexington. Unfortunately, Hancock’s father did not live enough before passing away, leaving behind his 7-year-old son. Hancock’s name was in the candidate pool during the first U.S. presidential election, though he won a small share of electoral votes. After inheriting family riches, the politically influential statesman used his fortunes to stand with his fellow countrymen during the bloody Revolutionary days against British colonialism in the American colonies. In 1777, Hancock returned to Boston, and was re-elected to the House of Representatives. The names of the signatories (the signers) of Independence weren’t revealed immediately – any such attempt would have endangered the lives of Hancock and his team since the British government would have charged them of treasonous acts. The couple had no children and hence adopted the boy. John Hancock spent much of his youth learning the family business, and eventually enrolled in Harvard College. She later sent John to live with Lydia and Thomas Hancock, his aunt and uncle. On 16th December that year, a group of irate American demonstrators (Sons of Liberty) offloaded tea from a British ship and threw the precious commodity into the Boston harbor. The tensions between British soldiers and Bostonians finally reached a boiling point on April 19, 1775 when the Battles of Lexington and Concord broke out. This is very help full for my project thank you. Just a few months later, Parliament passed the Stamp Act, which levied a tax upon any sort of legal document—wills, property deeds, and more—leading to enraged colonists rioting in the streets. By 1763, Hancock had become actively involved in Thomas’ booming business. Upon discovering they had no warrant to search the hold, Hancock refused to give the agents access to the cargo area of the ship. Their union brought forth 2 children – a daughter and a son. For the love of fledgling nation, he rather used his wealth to support the Revolutionary actions of the 13 colonies. When Thomas died childless in 1764, he left his entire fortune to John, making him one of the richest men in the colonies overnight. Hancock was the presiding officer that took receipt of the Declaration document drafted by the Committee of Five, which was made up of Roger Sherman (Connecticut delegate), Thomas Jefferson (Virginia delegate), John Adams (Massachusetts delegate), Benjamin Franklin (Pennsylvania delegate) and Robert R. Livingston (New York delegate). Hancock was present when the Declaration of Independence was drafted and adopted. In common parlance, the phrase “John Hancock” is synonymous with “signature.”. He served as president of the Second Continental Congress and was the first governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. "By Order of the [Massachusetts] Provincial Congress, John Hancock, President.”. The official signed version of the Declaration of Independence, called the engrossed copy, wasn’t produced until after July 4, 1776, and was actually signed at the beginning of August. Then in 1780, Hancock was elected Governor of Massachusetts winning with over 90% of the vote in a landslide. Once again, Hancock and Adams called for a boycott of British goods into the colonies, and this time, the Customs Board decided that Hancock had become a problem. Over the next few years, he remained active and outspoken in Massachusetts politics, and stood up against further British taxation laws, including the Tea Act, which led to the Boston Tea Party. In 1770, five Americans were shot to death by British troops in what was termed as the Boston Massacre. In an attempt to source revenue and strengthen their economically weak empire, as well as to pay debts incurred during the Seven Years’ War, the British imposed numerous tax acts on the American colonies during the 1760s. Hancock ultimately pushed for constitutional approval despite some initial reservations, and also presented amendments endorsed by the Federalist Party. Hancock’s business fortune by this time had significantly dwindled. Oration by John Hancock on the 4th anniversary of the Boston Massacre on March 5th, 1774 (File Size: 19.29K)... More from The Digital Public Library of America Article/Blog EntriesSamuel Adams - Dissident Founding Father If you had to pick one founding father who was the most dissident, rabble-rousing patriot, it would have to be Samuel Adams. It was only until 4th July 1776 that the Declaration of Independence was officially announced. In other words, in the earliest, riskiest stages of the war, it was Hancock’s name and his alone that was printed on The Declaration of Independence, a document that the British viewed as highly treasonous. Chief Justice John Jay: Family Background and Major Facts, Medgar Evers: Biography, Accomplishments, Assassination, & Legacy, Nemesis – the Ancient Greek Goddess of Retribution, Haile Selassie – Biography, Family Tree, Rastafarian Religion, & Famous Quotes, 10 things you should know about former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. John Hancock (1702 – 1744) As a result, a series of taxation acts were levied against the colonies. Lydia Henchman Hancock (1776 – 1777) Hancock’s signature appeared unusually large on the document; a feat that makes him still very famous among Americans. Hancock’s fame grew nationwide when the British troops were withdrawn. George Washington was appointed leader of the Continental Army while Hancock was appointed congress president. Hancock arrived in Philadelphia for the first time in 1775 as a delegate to the Second Continental Congress, during which time Hancock worked at Independence Hall, and he signed The Declaration of Independence. After leaving the Continental Congress again in 1778, Hancock joined the Massachusetts Militia and was eventually given command of a few thousand soldiers. Regardless, his iconic handwriting has become part of the American cultural lexicon. As time went on though, Hancock drifted further to the side of the protesters and eventually endorsed and participated in a boycott of British goods. He was called the purse of the revolution while Samuel Adams was called the mouth. Hancock became the first representative to sign the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, a document which maintained that the thirteen American states were free of British rule. But no one surrendered to the British, and Hancock traveled south to Philadelphia where he had been elected to serve in the Second Continental Congress. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. However, both would die young and John was left with no heirs. https://www.worldhistoryedu.com/john-hancock-biography-and-major-facts Adams, a founder of the Sons of Liberty, was well known for his strong stances against the British and became a mentor to Hancock who was roughly 15 years younger than Adams. He entered politics at a time when American colonialists were becoming increasingly agitated by British parliamentary tax regulations and restrictions, with Hancock becoming inextricably involved due to his importing-exporting affairs. This is in part due to the fact that unlike many of the other founding fathers, he left very few writings behind, and his house on Beacon Hill was torn down in 1863. John Hancock: Founding Father With a Famous Signature. The following are 5 very crucial facts about John Hancock: A hilarious but serious incident occurred in 1773. Hancock’s legacies live on. In 1766, political power fell on him; he was elected to join the Massachusetts General Court. He fully inherited the lucrative merchant business when his uncle shockingly left the world in 1764. However, the stores were only at one-fourth of the ship’s capacity, and agents concluded that Hancock must have offloaded the bulk of the cargo during the night in order to avoid paying import taxes. The Sugar Act of 1763 sparked anger in Boston, and men like Samuel Adams became outspoken critics of the legislation. He graduated from Harvard at just 17 and became one of the wealthiest men in New England, after inheriting a shipping business from his uncle. How to deal with video conference fatigue; Aug. 20, 2020. After a recovery, Hancock was once again elected Governor of Massachusetts in 1787 and continued to hold the position until his death in 1793. In 1780, Hancock won the election to become the first governor of Massachusetts. Hancock died on October 8, 1793, while serving as governor. He is known for signing a conspicuously large signature in 1776 on the Declaration of Independence document that gave birth to the United States of America. Simultaneously, the Provincial Congress made Hancock their leader. Hancock had openly declared his strong opposition to an unfair tax policy (the 1765 Stamp Act) and other intolerable acts initiated by the British. Understanding sales enablement and your road to success; Aug. 20, 2020. Hancock continued to win re-election as Governor until he was forced to resign in 1785 due to failing health. He is … In 1770, after the Boston Massacre, where British troops fired into a crowd with no matching weaponry, Hancock chaired the committee that demanded the removal of British forces. Although popular mythology has it that he signed his name largely and with flourish so King George could read it easily, there is no evidence that this is the case; the story likely originated years later. Hancock held significant political influence, and it was only because of Paul Revere’s heroic midnight ride that Hancock and Samuel Adams were not arrested before the battle of Lexington and Concord. He did so with a flourish that is world-famous. In 1774, Hancock was made leader of the Massachusetts delegate to the second Continental Congress, which would convene the following year in Philadelphia. For more information: ( Log Out /  Hancock stepped in as a leader and warned Governor Hutchinson to remove the British troops, else a necessary civilian action would follow. Born on January 23, 1737, in Braintree, Massachusetts, John Hancock inherited a thriving trading business in Boston and would, with Samuel Adams, become a major figure in colonial agitation against British rule. John Hancock’s flamboyant signature was the first to … Mary Hancock Perkins (1735 – 1779) Since John Hancocks conception in 2014 it has outgrown two different scale-up location. In 1789, he considered a run for the first president of the United States, but that honor ultimately fell to George Washington; Hancock received only four electoral votes in the election. Since John Hancock’s children did not survive until adulthood they did not get married so this famous Revolutionary War hero and Signer of the Declaration of Independence direct line ends with him. His position allowed him to slowly gain national influence and popularity. Hancock resigned as president of the Continental Congress in 1777, citing health issues, though he remained a member.

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