John hancock biography

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    John Hancock

    American Founding Father (–)

    For other people named John Hancock, see John Hancock (disambiguation).

    John Hancock

    Portrait by John Singleton Copley, c.&#;–

    In office
    May 30, &#;– October 8,
    LieutenantSamuel Adams
    Preceded byJames Bowdoin
    Succeeded bySamuel Adams
    In office
    October 25, &#;– January 29,
    LieutenantThomas Cushing
    Preceded byOffice established(partly Thomas Gage as colonial governor)
    Succeeded byJames Bowdoin
    In office
    November 23, &#;– June 5,
    Preceded byRichard Henry Lee
    Succeeded byNathaniel Gorham
    In office
    May 24, &#;– October 31,
    Preceded byPeyton Randolph
    Succeeded byHenry Laurens
    In office
    October 7, &#;– May 2,
    Preceded byOffice established
    Succeeded byJoseph Warren
    Born()January 23,
    Braintree, Province of Massachusetts Bay, British&#;America (now Quincy)
    DiedOctober 8, () (aged&#;56)
    Hancock Manor, Boston, M

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    John Hancock’s Early Years and Family

    John Hancock was born on January 23 (or January 12, according to the calendar in use at the time), , in Braintree (present-day Quincy), Massachusetts. After his clergyman father died when Hancock was a boy, he was raised by his aunt and uncle, Thomas Hancock (), a wealthy merchant, in their elegant Boston mansion.

    Did you know? Boston's story John Hancock Tower (also called Hancock Place) is the city's tallest building. It was named for the John Hancock insurance company, which was named for the Massachusetts statesman. In Chicago, the story John Hancock Center was the sixth-tallest building in the United States as of

    Writing of Declaration of Independence

    After graduating from Harvard College in , Hancock went to work for his uncle. When Thomas Hancock, who was childless, died in , his nephew inherited his lucrative import-export business and became one of the richest men in New England. Hancock would later earn a reputation for bei

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    “Some boast of being friends to government; I am a friend to righteous government, to a government founded upon the principles of reason and justice; but I glory in publicly avowing my eternal enmity to tyranny.”1

    John Hancock spoke these words during the Boston Massacre commemoration at Faneuil Hall. Hancock was considered an odd choice for speaker. Despite being one of the wealthiest and most popular men in Boston, Hancock was not renowned for his oratory or writing skills. His popularity meant the people of Boston liked John Hancock and wanted to hear him speak regardless of his skill.2 Hancock leveraged his wealth into being a central part of the growing Revolutionary movement, and one of the most popular figures in Massachusetts.

    Rising to such prominence, however, required no small amount of privilege. John Hancock inherited his wealth from his uncle, Thomas Hancock, in John Hancock’s father had passed away when Hancock was seven, making his uncle Thomas his caretaker. A

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