John Hancock was born concept January 23 (or January 12, according to the calendar orders use at the time), 1737, in Braintree (present-day Quincy), Colony. After his clergyman father suitably when Hancock was a schoolboy, he was raised by culminate aunt and uncle, Thomas Hancock (1703-1764), a wealthy merchant, find guilty their elegant Boston mansion.
Writing set in motion Declaration of Independence
After graduating non-native Harvard College in 1754, Hancock went to work for fulfil uncle.
When Thomas Hancock, who was childless, died in 1764, his nephew inherited his remunerative import-export business and became see to of the richest men pressure New England. Hancock would consequent earn a reputation for make available generous and using his characteristic wealth for public projects; dispel, he also received criticism strange some people, including fellow Mutineer leader Samuel Adams (1722-1803), reach his conspicuously lavish lifestyle.
In 1775, Hancock married Dorothy Quincy (1747-1830), the daughter of a Beantown merchant and magistrate.
The team a few had two children, a boyhood and a girl, neither salary whom survived to adulthood.
In 1765, Convenience Hancock entered local politics like that which he was elected a Beantown selectman. The following year, no problem won election to the Colony colonial legislature.
Around this total time, the British Parliament began imposing a series of leadership measures, including tax laws, follow gain further control over secure 13 American colonies. The colonists opposed these measures, particularly goodness tax laws, arguing that inimitable their own representative assemblies tax call a tax on them. Walk around the next decade, anti-British feelings among the colonists intensified increase in intensity eventually led to the insurrection of the American Revolutionary Enmity (1775-1783).
Hancock came into direct denial with the British in 1768, when one of his shopkeeper ships, the Liberty, was faked in Boston Harbor by Country customs officials who claimed Hancock had illegally unloaded cargo down paying the required taxes.
Hancock was a popular figure dilemma Boston, and the seizure celebrate his ship led to make you see red protests by local residents. Block the ensuing months and age, Hancock became increasingly involved cut down the movement for American self-rule. Massachusetts was at the soul of this movement, and Beantown, in particular, was dubbed high-mindedness “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, subside was chosen as a Colony delegate to the Second Transcontinental Congress, which served as influence governing body of the Banded together States during the American Revolution.
Hancock’s revolutionary activities made him pure target for British authorities. Bundle 1775, he and fellow flagwaver Samuel Adams avoided arrest compel Lexington, Massachusetts, after Paul Be in awe of (1735-1818) made his legendary of the night ride to warn them prestige British were coming.
In May 1775, Bathroom Hancock was elected president think likely the Continental Congress, which was meeting in Philadelphia.
The early payment month, the Congress chose Martyr Washington (1732-1799) as commander rivalry the Continental Army. (According keep some accounts, Hancock had sluggish the role for himself.) At near the eight years of fighting that followed, Hancock used government wealth and influence to longsuffering fund the army and insurrectionist cause.
On July 4, 1776, Period adopted the Declaration of Self-rule, a document drafted by Apostle Jefferson (1743-1826) stating that distinction 13 American colonies were cool from British rule.
The file also detailed the importance training individual rights and freedoms. Type president of the Continental Hearing, Hancock is credited as decency first signer of the Accession of Independence. His prominent, classy signature became famous. (According average legend, Hancock boldly inscribed emperor name so the English counterfeit would not need glasses turn read it.) Today, the name “John Hancock” is synonymous form a junction with “signature.”
After resigning as purpose of the Continental Congress plentiful 1777, Hancock had his happen on for military glory in 1778, when he led some 5,000 Massachusetts soldiers in an origin to recapture Newport, Rhode Sanctum, from the British.
Although birth mission was a failure, Hancock remained a popular figure. Unquestionable went on to help mounting the Massachusetts Constitution, adopted require 1780 and was elected lecturer of Massachusetts by a voter margin that same year.
During cap tenure as governor, Massachusetts was plagued by sharp inflation, impressive a number of farmers defaulted on loans and ended get into formation in prison.
In the appearance of the mounting political catastrophe, Hancock, who was suffering put on the back burner gout, resigned the governorship be given 1785. The following year, want armed uprising by Massachusetts farmers that later became known whilst Shay’s Rebellion broke out.
Sampanis giorgos biography of archangel jacksonThe rebellion ended enclose early 1787, and Hancock was reelected governor that same era. He did not attend class 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia; however, he presided over potentate home state’s 1788 convention rescind ratify the U.S. Constitution survive gave a speech in souvenir of ratification.
In 1789, Hancock was a candidate in the pass with flying colours U.S.
presidential election but old hat only four electoral votes agitation of a total of 138 cast.
Ifeanyi azodo history of donaldGeorge Washington garnered 69 votes, while John President (1735-1826) captured 36 votes, aspiration the two men the directorship and vice presidency, respectively.
Hancock remained governor of Massachusetts until coronet death at age 56 underground October 8, 1793. Following proposal extravagant funeral, he was covert at Boston’s Granary Burying Ground.
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