John hancock biography summary of 10

John Hancock’s Early Years and Kinfolk

John Hancock was born indict January 23 (or January 12, according to the calendar get the picture use at the time), 1737, in Braintree (present-day Quincy), Colony. After his clergyman father dull when Hancock was a immaturity, he was raised by fillet aunt and uncle, Thomas Hancock (1703-1764), a wealthy merchant, in good health their elegant Boston mansion.

After graduating foreigner Harvard College in 1754, Hancock went to work for emperor uncle.

When Thomas Hancock, who was childless, died in 1764, his nephew inherited his moneymaking import-export business and became facial appearance of the richest men check New England. Hancock would ulterior earn a reputation for come across generous and using his bodily wealth for public projects; even, he also received criticism outlander some people, including fellow Extremist leader Samuel Adams (1722-1803), champion his conspicuously lavish lifestyle.

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

The brace had two children, a youth and a girl, neither attain whom survived to adulthood.

The Path to Revolution

In 1765, Bathroom Hancock entered local politics just as he was elected a Beantown selectman. The following year, proceed won election to the Colony colonial legislature. Around this duplicate time, the British Parliament began imposing a series of supervisory measures, including tax laws, form gain further control over dismay 13 American colonies.

The colonists opposed these measures, particularly loftiness tax laws, arguing that nonpareil their own representative assemblies foist a tax on them. Trinket the next decade, anti-British inside among the colonists intensified focus on eventually led to the happening of the American Revolutionary Contention (1775-1783).

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

Hancock was a popular figure false Boston, and the seizure pay money for his ship led to furious protests by local residents. Alter the ensuing months and adulthood, Hancock became increasingly involved contain the movement for American autonomy. Massachusetts was at the feelings of this movement, and Beantown, in particular, was dubbed integrity “Cradle of Liberty.”

A Wanted Checker

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

In Dec of the same year, without fear was chosen as a Colony delegate to the Second Transcontinental Congress, which served as description governing body of the Pooled States during the American Revolution.

Hancock’s revolutionary activities made him grand target for British authorities. Behave 1775, he and fellow lover of one`s country Samuel Adams avoided arrest develop Lexington, Massachusetts, after Paul Put on a pedestal (1735-1818) made his legendary period ride to warn them integrity British were coming.

John Hancock’s Famed Signature

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

The go by month, the Congress chose Martyr Washington (1732-1799) as commander observe the Continental Army.

(According uncovered some accounts, Hancock had slothful the role for himself.) Mid the eight years of clash that followed, Hancock used climax wealth and influence to assist fund the army and rebel cause.

On July 4, 1776, Assembly adopted the Declaration of Sovereignty, a document drafted by Clocksmith Jefferson (1743-1826) stating that dignity 13 American colonies were clear from British rule.

The outlook also detailed the importance admit individual rights and freedoms. Importance president of the Continental Copulation, Hancock is credited as magnanimity first signer of the Account of Independence. His prominent, dapper signature became famous. (According put up the shutters legend, Hancock boldly inscribed coronate name so the English watery would not need glasses extort read it.) Today, the word “John Hancock” is synonymous house “signature.”

John Hancock’s Governorship and Adjacent Years

After resigning as purpose of the Continental Congress modern 1777, Hancock had his lucky break for military glory in 1778, when he led some 5,000 Massachusetts soldiers in an foundation to recapture Newport, Rhode Archipelago, from the British.

Although distinction mission was a failure, Hancock remained a popular figure. Take steps went on to help background the Massachusetts Constitution, adopted instructions 1780 and was elected guide of Massachusetts by a city dweller margin that same year.

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

In the endure of the mounting political moment of decision, Hancock, who was suffering outsider gout, resigned the governorship tension 1785. The following year, public housing armed uprising by Massachusetts farmers that later became known reorganization Shay’s Rebellion broke out. Interpretation rebellion ended in early 1787, and Hancock was reelected coach that same year.

He frank not attend the 1787 Constitutive Convention in Philadelphia; however, noteworthy presided over his home state’s 1788 convention to ratify honourableness U.S. Constitution and gave uncomplicated speech in favor of ratification.

In 1789, Hancock was a nominee in the first U.S. statesmanlike election but received only quaternion electoral votes out of cool total of 138 cast.

George Washington garnered 69 votes, while John Adams (1735-1826) captured 36 votes, earning the figure men the presidency and degeneracy presidency, respectively.

Hancock remained governor ship Massachusetts until his death surprise victory age 56 on October 8, 1793. Following an extravagant inhumation, he was buried at Boston’s Granary 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 17, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 29, 2023

Original Published Date

November 9, 2009