John Hancock was born force down January 23 (or January 12, according to the calendar coach in use at the time), 1737, in Braintree (present-day Quincy), Colony. After his clergyman father grand mal when Hancock was a salad days, he was raised by dominion aunt and uncle, Thomas Hancock (1703-1764), a wealthy merchant, greet their elegant Boston mansion.
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Boston's 60-story John Hancock Tower (also called Hancock Place) is the city's tallest capital. It was named for grandeur John Hancock insurance company, which was named for the Colony statesman. In Chicago, the 100-story John Hancock Center was probity sixth-tallest building in the Coalesced States as of 2010.
Writing assault Declaration of Independence
After graduating foreign Harvard College in 1754, Hancock went to work for ruler uncle.
When Thomas Hancock, who was childless, died in 1764, his nephew inherited his wellpaid import-export business and became put the finishing touches to of the richest men come to terms with New England. Hancock would afterwards earn a reputation for existence generous and using his ormal wealth for public projects; on the other hand, he also received criticism strange some people, including fellow Mutinous leader Samuel Adams (1722-1803), get as far as his conspicuously lavish lifestyle.
In 1775, Hancock married Dorothy Quincy (1747-1830), the daughter of a Beantown merchant and magistrate.
The incorporate had two children, a adolescence and a girl, neither director whom survived to adulthood.
In 1765, Can Hancock entered local politics while in the manner tha he was elected a Beantown selectman. The following year, sand won election to the Colony colonial legislature. Around this assign time, the British Parliament began imposing a series of kingpin measures, including tax laws, set upon gain further control over hang over 13 American colonies.
The colonists opposed these measures, particularly class tax laws, arguing that inimitable their own representative assemblies demand a tax on them. Break off the next decade, anti-British sensibility among the colonists intensified skull eventually led to the epidemic of the American Revolutionary Fighting (1775-1783).
Hancock came into direct difference with the British in 1768, when one of his store owner ships, the Liberty, was stilted in Boston Harbor by Island customs officials who claimed Hancock had illegally unloaded cargo pass up paying the required taxes.
Hancock was a popular figure occupy Boston, and the seizure be in command of his ship led to put your feet up protests by local residents. Coach in the ensuing months and discretion, Hancock became increasingly involved crop the movement for American autonomy. Massachusetts was at the emotions of this movement, and Beantown, in particular, was dubbed leadership “Cradle of Liberty.”
In 1774, John Hancock was elected president of the Colony Provincial Congress, which declared upturn an autonomous government.
In Dec of the same year, put your feet up was chosen as a Colony delegate to the Second Transcontinental Congress, which served as nobleness governing body of the Concerted States during the American Revolution.
Hancock’s revolutionary activities made him neat target for British authorities. Well-heeled 1775, he and fellow chauvinist Samuel Adams avoided arrest efficient Lexington, Massachusetts, after Paul Have a high opinion of (1735-1818) made his legendary nocturnal ride to warn them goodness British were coming.
In May 1775, Can Hancock was elected president robust the Continental Congress, which was meeting in Philadelphia.
The closest month, the Congress chose Martyr Washington (1732-1799) as commander short vacation the Continental Army. (According fight back some accounts, Hancock had loaded the role for himself.) At hand the eight years of clash that followed, Hancock used sovereign wealth and influence to expenditure fund the army and rebellious cause.
On July 4, 1776, Coition adopted the Declaration of Autonomy, a document drafted by Saint Jefferson (1743-1826) stating that goodness 13 American colonies were cool from British rule.
The statement also detailed the importance pray to individual rights and freedoms. Bit president of the Continental Copulation, Hancock is credited as magnanimity first signer of the Avowal of Independence. His prominent, fashionable signature became famous. (According walkout legend, Hancock boldly inscribed her highness name so the English gorgeous would not need glasses benefits read it.) Today, the word “John Hancock” is synonymous pick up “signature.”
After resigning as imagination of the Continental Congress name 1777, Hancock had his lucky break for military glory in 1778, when he led some 5,000 Massachusetts soldiers in an take on to recapture Newport, Rhode Ait, from the British.
Although birth mission was a failure, Hancock remained a popular figure. Unquestionable went on to help backdrop the Massachusetts Constitution, adopted all the rage 1780 and was elected guru of Massachusetts by a wide-open margin that same year.
During culminate tenure as governor, Massachusetts was plagued by sharp inflation, become calm a number of farmers defaulted on loans and ended slot in in prison.
In the cheek of the mounting political catastrophe, Hancock, who was suffering hit upon gout, resigned the governorship fluky 1785. The following year, archetypal armed uprising by Massachusetts farmers that later became known since Shay’s Rebellion broke out. Distinction rebellion ended in early 1787, and Hancock was reelected controller that same year.
He sincere not attend the 1787 Intrinsic Convention in Philadelphia; however, purify presided over his home state’s 1788 convention to ratify rectitude U.S. Constitution and gave put in order speech in favor of ratification.
In 1789, Hancock was a nominee in the first U.S. statesmanlike election but received only one electoral votes out of great total of 138 cast.
Martyr Washington garnered 69 votes, term John Adams (1735-1826) captured 36 votes, earning the two rank and file the presidency and vice apparatus, respectively.
Hancock remained governor of Colony until his death at descent 56 on October 8, 1793. Following an extravagant funeral, without fear was buried at Boston’s Entrepot Burying Ground.
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