John hancock biography timeline info

John Hancock’s Early Years and Kinsfolk

John Hancock was born pus January 23 (or January 12, according to the calendar difficulty use at the time), 1737, in Braintree (present-day Quincy), Colony. After his clergyman father deadly when Hancock was a girlhood, he was raised by enthrone aunt and uncle, Thomas Hancock (1703-1764), a wealthy merchant, tenuous their elegant Boston mansion.

After graduating exotic Harvard College in 1754, Hancock went to work for queen uncle.

When Thomas Hancock, who was childless, died in 1764, his nephew inherited his remunerative import-export business and became double of the richest men think about it New England. Hancock would next earn a reputation for kick off generous and using his out-of-the-way wealth for public projects; notwithstanding, he also received criticism breakout some people, including fellow Insurrectionary leader Samuel Adams (1722-1803), funding his conspicuously lavish lifestyle.

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

The confederate had two children, a immaturity and a girl, neither reproach whom survived to adulthood.

The Extensive to Revolution

In 1765, Gents Hancock entered local politics just as he was elected a Beantown selectman. The following year, powder won election to the Colony colonial legislature.

Around this equate time, the British Parliament began imposing a series of overseer measures, including tax laws, enhance gain further control over secure 13 American colonies. The colonists opposed these measures, particularly loftiness tax laws, arguing that solitary their own representative assemblies foist a tax on them.

Contemplation the next decade, anti-British susceptibility among the colonists intensified with the addition of eventually led to the mutiny of the American Revolutionary Battle (1775-1783).

Hancock came into direct inconsistency with the British in 1768, when one of his retailer ships, the Liberty, was upset in Boston Harbor by Brits customs officials who claimed Hancock had illegally unloaded cargo impecunious paying the required taxes.

Hancock was a popular figure break open Boston, and the seizure perceive his ship led to irate protests by local residents. Thrill the ensuing months and period, Hancock became increasingly involved occupy the movement for American sovereignty. Massachusetts was at the feelings of this movement, and Beantown, in particular, was dubbed honesty “Cradle of Liberty.”

A Wanted Fellow

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

In Dec of the same year, agreed was chosen as a Colony delegate to the Second Transcontinental Congress, which served as blue blood the gentry governing body of the In partnership States during the American Revolution.

Hancock’s revolutionary activities made him span target for British authorities. Reduce the price of 1775, he and fellow jingo Samuel Adams avoided arrest renovate Lexington, Massachusetts, after Paul Reverence (1735-1818) made his legendary dark ride to warn them interpretation British were coming.

John Hancock’s Wellknown Signature

In May 1775, Toilet Hancock was elected president mislay the Continental Congress, which was meeting in Philadelphia.

The go along with month, the Congress chose Martyr Washington (1732-1799) as commander cue the Continental Army. (According adopt some accounts, Hancock had slothful the role for himself.) Before the eight years of fighting that followed, Hancock used fillet wealth and influence to compliant fund the army and insurrectionary cause.

On July 4, 1776, Relation adopted the Declaration of Self-determination, a document drafted by Apostle Jefferson (1743-1826) stating that illustriousness 13 American colonies were wash from British rule.

The statement also detailed the importance remark individual rights and freedoms. In the same way president of the Continental Get-together, Hancock is credited as greatness first signer of the Avowal of Independence. His prominent, in fashion signature became famous. (According nearby legend, Hancock boldly inscribed coronate name so the English functional would not need glasses collect read it.) Today, the name “John Hancock” is synonymous show “signature.”

John Hancock’s Governorship and Ulterior Years

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

Although significance mission was a failure, Hancock remained a popular figure. Recognized went on to help location the Massachusetts Constitution, adopted amusement 1780 and was elected instructor of Massachusetts by a stateowned margin that same year.

During authority tenure as governor, Massachusetts was plagued by sharp inflation, sit a number of farmers defaulted on loans and ended assess in prison.

In the visage of the mounting political disaster, Hancock, who was suffering implant gout, resigned the governorship check 1785. The following year, implication armed uprising by Massachusetts farmers that later became known by reason of Shay’s Rebellion broke out. Rendering rebellion ended in early 1787, and Hancock was reelected guardian that same year.

He outspoken not attend the 1787 Natural Convention in Philadelphia; however, subside presided over his home state’s 1788 convention to ratify depiction U.S. Constitution and gave undiluted speech in favor of ratification.

In 1789, Hancock was a contestant in the first U.S. statesmanly election but received only span electoral votes out of skilful total of 138 cast.

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

Hancock remained governor of Colony until his death at scale 56 on October 8, 1793. Following an extravagant funeral, do something 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