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=John Hancock= Date of Birth: January 23, 1737 Date of Death: October 8, 1793 Place of Birth: Quincy, Massachusetts

Positions: - Elected to the Boston Assembly, 1766 - Delegate to, and President of, the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, circa 1773 - Elected to Continental Congress (Representative of Massachusetts), 1774 - Elected President of the Continental Congress, 1775 - Member of Massachusetts state Constitutional Convention - elected Governor of Massachusetts, through 1793

No doubt the most pretentious signature on any American document, the signature of John Hancock on the Declaration of Independence has brought him additional recognition and acknowledgement. However, Hancock did not need his flamboyant signature to bring attention to himself -- "Few figures were more well known or more popular than John Hancock (Thomas Kindig)."

Although John Hancock was orphaned at a young age, he was fortunately adopted by his very wealthy merchant uncle. In 1763, his uncle passed and left Hancock what was said "to be the greatest body of wealth in New England." This wealth allowed Hancock's social circle to consist of the Adamses and other prominent leaders. He pursued revolutionary politics and clearly wanted independence from Great Britain.

In 1766, he was elected to the Boston Assembly and was also a member of the Stamp Act Congress. He encouraged the acts of patriots, including the Boston Tea Party, and went around giving speeches to the public, one emphasizing the Boston Massacre. In 1774, he was elected to the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts and the Continental Congress at the same time. He obtained the position of the President after Peyton Rudolph retired in 1776. After retiring a year later in 1777, he was elected to the Governorship of the state and served for five years. At first, he declined the re-election, but was again elected in 1787. He stayed in position until his death in 1793.

Most well-known for his audacious signature, John Hancock was the first of the 56 to sign of the Declaration of Independence. Two stories have been passed on regarding the comments Hancock made upon signing, yet none have been accredited. The first claims that Hancock commented, "There, I guess King George will be able to read that!" The second claims he said, "The British ministry can read that name without spectacles; let them double the reward!" This comment referred to the bounty that England was offering for his capture.

I did not choose John Hancock because I had a special affection for him, but rather because he was infamous for his signature. I did not know he was so popular among the public and also that he grew up as an orphan. I learned that his uncle was one of the wealthiest around, allowing Hancock to be acquainted with the people he needed to push his political views. Hancock is yet another historical character that attended Harvard University.



Sources: http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/hancock.htm http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/colonial/jb_colonial_hancock_3.html