John Hancock

2 Pages 586 Words

The person I have chosen to write my paper on is John Hancock. I choose him because of the showy form in which it is inscribed on the Declaration of Independence “John Hancock” has been incorporated in to the English language as a synonym for “signature”. John Hancock is most famous for his bold signature, but he had more than just a pretty signature he was a man who knew hot to get things done.

Born on January 12, 1737 in Braintree (now part of Quincy), Massachusetts. He was the middle of 3 kids; he had an older sister and a younger brother. His father was a reverend, until he died when John was 7. So then his mother sent him to his wealthy and childless uncle and aunt, Thomas and Lynda. The adopted him and at the age of nine John entered the Boston Latin School also called South Grammar School. He spent four more years in Boston Latin School, and went into Harvard College (now Harvard University). He graduated from Harvard College at the age of 17. After he graduated from Harvard College he entered his uncle’s lucrative mercantile business. Upon the death of his uncle in 1764, he inherited Boston’s leading mercantile firm, which was reported to be the greatest fortune ever amassed in New England. He was twenty-seven years old. He became one of the richest men in the colonies. At the age of 38, he married Dolly Quincy. They had 2 children, but hey both died very young. His daughter only lived a few months, and his son got killed when he was ice-skating at the age of nine.

He was elected to he Boston Assembly in 1766, and was a member of the Stamp Act Congress. Soon afterward, Hancock abetted the Boston Tea Party. The following year he delivered a public address to a large crown in Boston, commemoration the Boston Massacre. Delegate to, and President of, the Provincial congress of Massachusetts in 1773; Elected to Continental Congress in 1774; Elected President of the Continental Congress from May, 1775 t...