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John Hancock

John Hancock
Half-length portrait of a man with a hint of a smile. His handsome features suggests that he is in his 30s, although he wears an off-white wig in the style of an English gentleman that makes him appear older. His dark suit has fancy embroidery.
Portrait by John Singleton Copley, c. 1770–72
4th President of the Continental Congress
In office
May 24, 1775 – October 31, 1777
Preceded by Peyton Randolph
Succeeded by Henry Laurens
1st and 3rd Governor of Massachusetts
In office
October 25, 1780 – January 29, 1785
Lieutenant Thomas Cushing
Preceded by Office Created (Thomas Gage as colonial governor)
Succeeded by James Bowdoin
In office
May 30, 1787 – October 8, 1793
Lieutenant Samuel Adams
Preceded by James Bowdoin
Succeeded by Samuel Adams
Personal details
Born (1737-01-23)January 23, 1737
Braintree (now Quincy), Province of Massachusetts Bay
Died October 8, 1793(1793-10-08) (aged 56)
Hancock Manor, Boston, Massachusetts
Resting place Granary Burying Ground, Boston
Spouse(s) Dorothy Quincy
Alma mater Harvard University (Bachelors)
Net worth US$350,000 at the time of his death (approximately 1/714th of US GNP)
Signature John Hancock's stylish signature. The handwriting, which slants slightly to the right, is firm and legible. The final letter loops back to underline his name in a flourish.

John Hancock (January 23, 1737 [O.S. January 12, 1736] – October 8, 1793) was an American merchant, statesman, and prominent Patriot of the American Revolution. He served as president of the Second Continental Congress and was the first and third Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He is remembered for his large and stylish signature on the United States Declaration of Independence, so much so that the term "John Hancock" has become, in the United States, a synonym for a signature.

Before the American Revolution, Hancock was one of the wealthiest men in the Thirteen Colonies, having inherited a profitable mercantile business from his uncle. Hancock began his political career in Boston as a protégé of Samuel Adams, an influential local politician, though the two men later became estranged. As tensions between colonists and Great Britain increased in the 1760s, Hancock used his wealth to support the colonial cause. He became very popular in Massachusetts, especially after British officials seized his sloop Liberty in 1768 and charged him with smuggling. Although the charges against Hancock were eventually dropped, he has often been described as a smuggler in historical accounts, but the accuracy of this characterization has been questioned.

Hancock was one of Boston's leaders during the crisis that led to the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War in 1775. He served more than two years in the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, and as president of Congress, was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence. Hancock returned to Massachusetts and was elected governor of the Commonwealth, serving in that role for most of his remaining years. He used his influence to ensure that Massachusetts ratified the United States Constitution in 1788.


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