Free Essays on John Hancock

John Hancock John Hancock was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence. He did so with such a flourish that his name became a synonym for the word â€Å"signature† (United states-on-line). John was born into a middle class family. When he was eight he practiced how to write his signature. He used his family’s fortune for his fame. John didn’t hesitate when he was asked to join the Sons of Liberty. Hancock was also accused of wine smuggling (The Founding Fathers Series). After graduating from Harvard in 1754, he joined his uncle’s firm, and ten years later he took over it’s management, becoming the wealthiest merchant in New England. He united with the protest against the Stamp Act along with the other British dictatorial measures. Hancock gained the esteem of the Massachusetts patriots (United States-on-line). Due to the Sugar Act of 1764 the commissioners sought to trap him into a technical insubordination. Hancock with stood his ground, and the charges were soon dropped. Customs agents seized his ship called the Liberty in 1768, popular sympathy led to public demonstrations in his behalf; John Adams defended him and the charges were finally dropped. John Hancock emerged as a leading figure in the revolutionary movement. In 1774 Hancock was elected president of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress (United States-on-line). The following year he became the leader of the Boston patriot committee and an ally of Adams. British officials brought attention to John Adams and John Hancock in 1775 because of inflammatory oratory. Warned by Paul Revere, they fled Lexington just as the battles of Lexington and Concord opened the Revolutionary War (The Founding Fathers Series). John Hancock was elected to the Second Continental Congress, John signed the Declaration of Independence and afterwards he was elected president of Congress. He resigned in 1777 in dissatisfaction over the failure of Congress to mak... Free Essays on John Hancock Free Essays on John Hancock John Hancock John Hancock was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence. He did so with such a flourish that his name became a synonym for the word â€Å"signature† (United states-on-line). John was born into a middle class family. When he was eight he practiced how to write his signature. He used his family’s fortune for his fame. John didn’t hesitate when he was asked to join the Sons of Liberty. Hancock was also accused of wine smuggling (The Founding Fathers Series). After graduating from Harvard in 1754, he joined his uncle’s firm, and ten years later he took over it’s management, becoming the wealthiest merchant in New England. He united with the protest against the Stamp Act along with the other British dictatorial measures. Hancock gained the esteem of the Massachusetts patriots (United States-on-line). Due to the Sugar Act of 1764 the commissioners sought to trap him into a technical insubordination. Hancock with stood his ground, and the charges were soon dropped. Customs agents seized his ship called the Liberty in 1768, popular sympathy led to public demonstrations in his behalf; John Adams defended him and the charges were finally dropped. John Hancock emerged as a leading figure in the revolutionary movement. In 1774 Hancock was elected president of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress (United States-on-line). The following year he became the leader of the Boston patriot committee and an ally of Adams. British officials brought attention to John Adams and John Hancock in 1775 because of inflammatory oratory. Warned by Paul Revere, they fled Lexington just as the battles of Lexington and Concord opened the Revolutionary War (The Founding Fathers Series). John Hancock was elected to the Second Continental Congress, John signed the Declaration of Independence and afterwards he was elected president of Congress. He resigned in 1777 in dissatisfaction over the failure of Congress to mak... Free Essays on John Hancock 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 â€Å"John Hancock† has been incorporated in to the English language as a synonym for â€Å"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...