John Hancock is a man whose face may not be reconcilable to most people but almost everyone knows his name, and more specially his signature. When one looks at the Declaration of Independence his is the name that stands out, it is the largest and the clearest. There are many rumors surrounding his signing of the document. It is said that he signed it so large because he wanted to King to be able to read it without specials. Whatever the rumors what is clear, besides his name, is that he had a great impact on the forming of the United States.
John Hancock was born on January 12, 1737 in what is now Quincy, Massachusetts. After the death of his father he was raised by his wealthy uncle and upon his death inherited what was arguably one of the largest fortunes in the new world at the time. He was educated at Harvard College and received a degree in 1754. He married Dorothy Quincy and had two children, neither of whom survived to adulthood.
Hancock’s involvement in the signing of the document came about through his work and the connections he had to very wealthy business men. It was clear that despite his friendships to many know loyalists he was strongly for the independence of the colonies. He was involved in many smuggling operations to resist the taxes unjustly placed on the colonies by England. He became more of a public figure over time and on the forth anniversary of the Boston Massacre gave a speech that help launch him into the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts then to the Continental Congress. He became the President of the Provincial Congress after that which put him in a position to take part in the second Continental Congress and in turn the signing of the Declaration of Independence. He was the first to sign the document on August 2nd and this is also one of the attributing factors to the size of the signature.
He died in October 1793 in his hometown and after living a very influential life in early America still enjoys a celebrity status in today’s world whenever anyone is asked to give their John Hancock.
John Hancock was born on January 12, 1737 in what is now Quincy, Massachusetts. After the death of his father he was raised by his wealthy uncle and upon his death inherited what was arguably one of the largest fortunes in the new world at the time. He was educated at Harvard College and received a degree in 1754. He married Dorothy Quincy and had two children, neither of whom survived to adulthood.
Hancock’s involvement in the signing of the document came about through his work and the connections he had to very wealthy business men. It was clear that despite his friendships to many know loyalists he was strongly for the independence of the colonies. He was involved in many smuggling operations to resist the taxes unjustly placed on the colonies by England. He became more of a public figure over time and on the forth anniversary of the Boston Massacre gave a speech that help launch him into the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts then to the Continental Congress. He became the President of the Provincial Congress after that which put him in a position to take part in the second Continental Congress and in turn the signing of the Declaration of Independence. He was the first to sign the document on August 2nd and this is also one of the attributing factors to the size of the signature.
He died in October 1793 in his hometown and after living a very influential life in early America still enjoys a celebrity status in today’s world whenever anyone is asked to give their John Hancock.
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