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John Hancock's Early Years and Family
The Road to Revolution
A Wanted Man
John Hancock's Famous Signature
John Hancock's Governorship and Later Years
American Revolution leader John Hancock (1737-1793) was a signer of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and a governor of Massachusetts. The colonial Massachusetts native was raised by his uncle, a wealthy Boston merchant. When his uncle died, Hancock inherited his lucrative shipping business. In the mid-1760s, as the British government began imposing regulatory measures to assert greater authority over its American colonies, anti-British sentiment and unrest grew among the colonists. Hancock used his wealth and influence to aid the movement for American independence. He was president of the Second Continental Congress from 1775 to 1777, when the Declaration of Independence was adopted and the United States was born. From 1780 to 1785, Hancock was the first governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He was reelected in 1787 and served until his death in 1793.
John Hancock was born on January 23 (or January 12, according to the calendar in use at the time), 1737, 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 (1703-1764), a wealthy merchant, in their elegant Boston mansion.https://fdbbe8b7848c8d7276a97301f8aff494.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
Did you know? Boston's 60-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 100-story John Hancock Center was the sixth-tallest building in the United States as of 2010.
After graduating from Harvard College in 1754, Hancock went to work for his uncle. When Thomas Hancock, who was childless, died in 1764, 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 being generous and using his personal wealth for public projects; however, he also received criticism from some people, including fellow Revolutionary leader Samuel Adams (1722-1803), for his conspicuously lavish lifestyle.
In 1775, Hancock married Dorothy Quincy (1747-1830), the daughter of a Boston merchant and magistrate. The couple had two children, a boy and a girl, neither of whom survived to adulthood.
In 1765, John Hancock entered local politics when he was elected a Boston selectman. The following year, he won election to the Massachusetts colonial legislature. Around this same time, the British Parliament began imposing a series of regulatory measures, including tax laws, to gain further control over its 13 American colonies. The colonists opposed these measures, particularly the tax laws, arguing that only their own representative assemblies impose tax them. Over the next decade, anti-British sentiment among the colonists intensified and eventually led to the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783).https://fdbbe8b7848c8d7276a97301f8aff494.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
Hancock came into direct conflict with the British in 1768, when one of his merchant ships, the Liberty, was seized in Boston Harbor by British customs officials who claimed Hancock had illegally unloaded cargo without paying the required taxes. Hancock was a popular figure in Boston, and the seizure of his ship led to angry protests by local residents. In the ensuing months and years, Hancock became increasingly involved in the movement for American independence. Massachusetts was at the center of this movement, and Boston, in particular, was dubbed the "Cradle of Liberty."
In 1774, John Hancock was elected president of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress, which declared itself an autonomous government. In December of the same year, he was chosen as a Massachusetts delegate to the Second Continental Congress, which served as the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution.
Hancock's revolutionary activities made him a target for British authorities. In 1775, he and fellow patriot Samuel Adams avoided arrest in Lexington, Massachusetts, after Paul Revere (1735-1818) made his legendary nighttime ride to warn them the British were coming.
In May 1775, John Hancock was elected president of the Continental Congress, which was meeting in Philadelphia. The next month, the Congress chose George Washington (1732-1799) as commander of the Continental Army. (According to some accounts, Hancock had eyed the role for himself.) During the eight years of war that followed, Hancock used his wealth and influence to help fund the army and revolutionary cause.
On July 4, 1776, Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, a document drafted by Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) stating that the 13 American colonies were free from British rule. The document also detailed the importance of individual rights and freedoms. As president of the Continental Congress, Hancock is credited as the first signer of the Declaration of Independence. His prominent, stylish signature became famous. (According to legend, Hancock boldly inscribed his name so the English king would not need glasses to read it.) Today, the term "John Hancock" is synonymous with "signature."
After resigning as head of the Continental Congress in 1777, Hancock had his chance for military glory in 1778, when he led some 5,000 Massachusetts soldiers in an attempt to recapture Newport, Rhode Island, from the British. Although the mission was a failure, Hancock remained a popular figure. He went on to help frame the Massachusetts Constitution, adopted in 1780, and was elected governor of Massachusetts by a wide margin that same year.
During his tenure as governor, Massachusetts was plagued by sharp inflation, and a number of farmers defaulted on loans and ended up in prison. In the face of the mounting political crisis, Hancock, who was suffering from gout, resigned the governorship in 1785. The following year, an armed uprising by Massachusetts farmers that later became known as Shay's Rebellion broke out. The rebellion ended in early 1787, and Hancock was reelected governor that same year. He did not attend the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia; however, he presided over his home state's 1788 convention to ratify the U.S. Constitution and gave a speech in favor of ratification.
In 1789, Hancock was a candidate in the first U.S. presidential election, but received only four electoral votes out of a total 138 cast. George Washington garnered 69 votes, while John Adams (1735-1826) captured 36 votes, earning the two men the presidency and vice presidency, respectively.
Hancock remained governor of Massachusetts until his death at age 56 on October 8, 1793. Following an extravagant funeral, he was buried at Boston's Granary Burying Ground.
John Hancock Facts
John Hancock is one of the most important founding fathers. These John Hancock Facts cover his time as President of the Continental Congress, where he oversaw the Declaration of Independence, the adoption of the Articles of Confederation and the defeat of General Burgoyne at Saratoga, a pivotal turning point in the Revolutionary War.
On our John Hancock Facts page, you will also learn about John Hancock's family, read quotes by and about John Hancock and see pictures of many John Hancock Landmarks that are still standing today. Hancock was one of the most widely known and popular of the Founding Fathers in his day and today is known, of course, for the very large signature he put on the Declaration of Independence, declaring his contempt for King George III and his loyalty to all Americans.
John Hancock – Date of Birth
John Hancock Birthplace
Braintree, Massachusetts (the part of town that is now Quincy)
Parents' names
Reverend John Hancock of Braintree, June 1, 1702 – May 7, 1744 (only 42 when he died)
Mary Hawke Thaxter, October 13, 1711 – 1783
John and Mary married on December 12, 1733. He was her second husband. She would marry a third time after his death.
Parents' occupations
Rev. John Hancock was a graduate of Harvard in 1719 at the age of 17. He served as Harvard's librarian from 1723-1726. From 1726 until his death, he served as pastor of the church of the North Precinct (now called the United First Parish Church, nicknamed "Church of the Presidents") in the town of Braintree, Massachusetts (now Quincy). This church is the burial place of Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams.
John's father died when he was only 7 years old and he went to live with his grandfather, the Reverend John Hancock in Lexington, where he lived until 1750. Reverend Hancock had another son named Thomas who lived in Boston with his wife Lydia. Thomas was the owner of a wealthy company that imported manufactured goods from Britain and exported whale oil, fish and rum. He was one of the wealthiest men in New England and founded a professorship of Oriental Languages and Hebrew at Harvard and donated generously to Harvard's library.
Thomas and Lydia had no children and, consequently, no heir to take over the business. When John was thirteen, Thomas and Lydia adopted him. The elder Rev. Hancock intended for John to follow in his and his father's footsteps and become a minister. When Thomas adopted him, however, he promised to send John to Harvard, but also intended to have him take over his business when he was of age. Thomas became the primary influence in John's life after the adoption.
Number of siblings
John Hancock Facts – Birth order
John Hancock was the 2nd of Rev. John Hancock's 3 children:
Mary – 1735 – 1779
John – 1737 – 1793
Ebenezer – 1741 -1819, Ebenezer served as deputy paymaster general of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War beginning in June 1776. He graduated from Harvard in 1760. He was also a Keeper of the Powder House in Boston, Fire Warden, Inspector of the Massachusetts Mint and Town Selectman in Boston.
John's mother Mary remarried after the Reverend's death and with her new husband also had two half-siblings to John, a boy and a girl, but they were both stillborn.
Nicknames and Pseudonyms
King Hancock, for his great wealth
John Hancock Education
John Hancock went to Boston Latin School, the oldest educational institution in the colonies and graduated in 1750 at 13. Then he went to Harvard where he studied Latin, religion, physics, geometry, astronomy, geology and arithmetic, receiving a Bachelor's Degree in Classical Studies in 1754. After graduating he went to work for his uncle's firm.
John Hancock Facts – Religious Views
John Hancock's father and grandfather were both Congregationalist ministers and graduates of Harvard's ministerial school. Had John's father not died when he was young, he likely would have followed in his father's footsteps and become a minister, as many sons did at that time. After his father's death, John went to live with his grandfather until the age of 13. Hancock's grandfather John was minister of the Congregationalist church in Lexington for literally decades and was known as the "Bishop" by area churches.
John Hancock was a lifelong member of the Brattle Street Congregationalist Church. His name was inscribed on the cornerstone of the church for the 1,000 pounds he gave when the church was built. He also bought the church's bell. He also gave a Bible to a church in Lunenberg and bought another bell for a church in Jamaica Plain.
He made frequent appeals to God in his role as President of the Continental Congress and Governor of Massachusetts. In these public positions, he made many statements of praise and thanks to God for His blessings in the fight for independence, made public requests for prayer and repentance and asserted that God was in control of America's destiny. Hancock also advocated state support of religious institutions.
Some statements revealing his religious faith from some of his public statements and proclamations include:
In a letter to the Continental Army in March 1776, Hancock proclaimed that the same God who had foiled British efforts to conquer Massachusetts would defeat their "deep-laid scheme" against the other colonies as well.
In an appeal to all the colonies in September 1776, he stated that members of Congress relied "on Heaven for the justice of our cause."
He also said, "I am persuaded under the gracious smiles of Providence, assisted by our own most strenuous endeavors, we shall finally succeed."
From his inaugural address as governor in 1780, Hancock thanked God for "the peaceable and auspicious" adoption of the new state constitution.
In 1782 Hancock reassured members of the Massachusetts legislature that "the favor of heaven" would eventually establish America's righteous claims.
Hancock's Thanksgiving proclamation the following year encouraged citizens to express their gratitude for God's numerous blessings and to recognize that their "entire Dependence" was on "His Goodness and Bounty."
When Hancock died, the Reverend Dr. Thatcher, Hancock's pastor at Brattle Street Church, delivered the eulogy. He made the following comments about Hancock's religious commitment:
"His reverence for religion was never lost. He was interested in every thing that related to the house of God. He exceeded his worthy ancestors in his liberality to this society and proved his real attachment to our peace and happiness. It might have been said of him as of the centurion by the Jews,'He loved our nation and hath built us a synagogue.'"
John Hancock Facts – First Occupation
John Hancock went to work for his uncle's firm, the House of Hancock, after graduating from Harvard. He began to be trained to become a full partner in the business. Hancock served in this position for many years and became a full partner in 1763 when his uncle's health began to fail. Thomas Hancock died in August, 1764 and John inherited the business, the estate and 22,000 acres of land in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Maine, making him one of the wealthiest men in the colonies.
Later, during the Revolutionary War, Hancock would serve as the President of the Continental Congress and become the first Governor of the State of Massachusetts
Trips abroad
John Hancock made only one trip away from America in his life. He lived in London from 1760-1761 while on business for his uncle. John engaged with some of the leading businessmen in England at the time. While on this trip John witnessed the coronation of King George III on September 22, 1761, the king whom he would later refuse to serve and fight directly against during the Revolutionary War. Another American was also present and witnessed the coronation – Benjamin Franklin, whom John did not yet know personally.
The Hancock Family
Date of marriage, wife's name
Dorothy "Dolly" Quincy – Married August 28, 1775. The couple married at Fairfield, Connecticut shortly after the American Revolution began while the Second Continental Congress was on a recess where John oversaw the war effort in his position as President. Dorothy and Hancock's adoptive Aunt, Lydia Hancock, were staying temporarily in Fairfield because of the unrest in Boston. Dorothy was staying with John and Lydia in their mansion on Beacon Hill and had been engaged to him while there.
Children's names, birth order, occupations
Lydia Henchman Hancock – October, 1776 – November, 1777. Lydia died in infancy.
John George Washington Hancock – May 21, 1778 – January 27, 1787. John died at the age of eight as a result of a head injury suffered in an ice skating accident.
Famous relatives
Dorothy Quincy, John Hancock's wife, was a cousin to Elizabeth Quincy Smith, the mother of Abigail Adams, wife of Signer of the Declaration of Independence and President John Adams. Other prominent members of the Quincy family include future President John Quincy Adams, Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, last Royal Attorney General of Massachusetts Jonathan Sewell and Revolutionary War soldier Josiah Quincy.
John Hancock Facts – Hancock Coat of Arms
The Hancock family Coat of Arms consisted of a hand beneath three cocks with a griffin (half lion, half eagle) above all.
Hancock Family Coat of Arms
John Hancock Homes
The Hancock-Clarke House in Lexington, Massachusetts is the home where John Hancock lived with his grandfather, the Reverend John Hancock, after John's father died. Hancock lived here for six years until he moved to Boston and was adopted by his uncle Thomas. The Reverend Hancock was succeeded by the Reverend Jonas Clarke, who lived in the house and raised twelve children there.
On the evening of April 18, 1775, the eve before the Revolutionary War began, John Hancock and Samuel Adams were staying with Reverend Clarke because it was too dangerous to return to Boston. This is where Paul Revere and William Dawes arrived separately on horseback to warn the men that the British were coming, before riding on toward Concord. The house still stands and is owned by the Lexington Historical Society. Visitors are welcome from April through October.
Hancock-Clarke House,Lexington, Massachusetts
After moving in with his uncle after his father died, John Hancock grew up in Hancock Manor, his uncle's luxurious estate on Beacon Hill in Boston. The home stood until the 1860's when efforts to restore it failed. The state capitol stands on the grounds today. This is a picture of the actual home around 1860. It was torn down in 1863.
Hancock Manor, Beacon Hill, Boston, Massachusetts
In 1925, Horace Moses constructed the Hancock House in Ticonderoga, New York, an exact replica of Hancock Manor for the New York State Historical Association, as a museum for "American Traditions in History and the Fine Arts." The Association used the house as its headquarters until after World War II. Today it is owned by the Ticonderoga Historical Society and serves as a regional museum and library. You can visit today and learn more about the John Hancock House here.
John Hancock House Replica Ticonderoga (Link here to Measured Drawings of the Original Home)
A replica of John Hancock's house was built for the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. The house served as a museum at the fair.
John Hancock House replica, Chicago World's Fair, 1893
The Dorothy Quincy House in Quincy, Massachusetts, also known as the Quincy Homestead, is the childhood home of Dorothy Quincy Hancock, wife of John Hancock. The home served five generations of Quincys and is open to the public. It is on the National Historic Landmark, owned by the State of Massachusetts and operated by the National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is open on Saturdays during the summer. You can learn more about the Dorothy Quincy House here.
Dorothy Quincy House – Quincy, Massachusetts505Save
How he got involved in the independence effort?
John Hancock became involved in the independence effort through the events of several years' time beginning in 1765 when he was elected to Boston's Town Council as one of the five Selectmen, a position his rich uncle held for many years. Shortly after his election, the Stamp Act was passed by Parliament to tax all legal and contractual transactions on paper that was to be stamped with an official seal. Many colonists believed this was an illegal tax because they were not represented in Parliament. They had always been taxed only by their own elected representatives in their own legislatures. As the owner of a large shipping firm, John Hancock was particularly affected by the Stamp Act with loads of paperwork and heavy taxes. He was very vocal in his opposition, though at first he believed it should be obeyed until a repeal could take place. After a few months, Hancock changed his mind and joined the resistance. He joined in the Boston merchants' boycott of British goods, impacting his own business, though he still disapproved of mob intimidation and violence toward officials. Many royal officials were burned in effigy or had their homes ransacked for supporting the Stamp Act, including the Lieutenant Governor, Thomas Hutchinson. The Massachusetts House of Assembly called for a meeting of all the colonies to meet in New York in October, 1765, to discuss a unified response of the colonies to resist the Stamp Act. The meeting is known as the Stamp Act Congress. John Hancock was one of the Massachusetts representatives chosen to attend the Stamp Act Congress, which produced several statements of the colonists' rights and grievances.
His participation in the boycott of British goods made him popular in Boston and after the Stamp Act was repealed in March 1766, Hancock was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in May, along with James Otis, Thomas Cushing, and Samuel Adams. Samuel Adams, one of the most vocal and ardent opposers of British tactics and was the Clerk of the House of Representatives. The two became close associates. Many people view them in a mentor/protege light and credit Adams with engineering Hancock's rise to political prominence. Adams may have promoted Hancock in order to exploit Hancock's wealth to resist the British, but he undoubtedly also respected Hancock's own political senses.
In 1767, Parliament passed the Townshend Acts, a series of Acts designed to increase revenue and decrease smuggling. Colonists were involved in smuggling to avoid paying taxes and to find more lucrative markets outside the British Empire. The colonists were outraged at the Acts and Boston merchants, including John Hancock, again boycotted British goods until the Townshend Acts would be repealed. Part of the Townshend Acts involved much stricter enforcement by customs officials and Hancock was continually targeted by them because of his high profile and large shipping business. His ships and warehouses were the continual target of snooping officials. They may have suspected him of smuggling or were simply targeting him because of his high profile. On April 9, 1768, two customs officials boarded his brig Lydia and demanded to search her goods below deck. Hancock was called and when he arrived he found that the officials did not have a writ of assistance (a search warrant) so he forbade them from searching the ship. Later one of them snuck below deck and when he was found he was forced out of the hold by Hancock's employees. Later on, some viewed this as the first act of physical resistance to the British and credited Hancock with beginning the Revolutionary War. Some wanted to charge Hancock with resisting the law for barring the officials from searching his ship, but the charges were dropped by Massachusetts Attorney General Jonathan Sewell, who investigated the matter and determined that Hancock had not violated any laws.
The Liberty Incident
On May 9, 1768, Hancock's sloop Liberty arrived in Boston with a shipment of Madeira wine. The following day the ship was inspected by customs officials who accused him of smuggling. They found only 25 caskets of wine on board, but the ship's capacity was much greater. They suspected him of removing much of the cargo in the night. This was never proved however because the two customs employees on board the ship for the night both said that no such thing happened. A month later, one of these employees changed his story and said he was forced to remain quiet while the cargo was removed in the night. On June 10, officials seized the Liberty, which had been filled with new cargo and towed it out to be guarded by the warship HMS Romney in the harbor. The citizens of Boston were outraged and began to riot. Several customs officials' homes were destroyed and many of them fled to the Romney and then to Castle William, a fort on an island in the harbor. Hancock was the victim of two lawsuits as a result. John Adams, the future president and signer of the Declaration of Independence, was Hancock's attorney. The first was filed on June 22, 1768, concluded in August and resulted in the confiscation of the Liberty, which was put into the customs service. It was burned by angry colonists in Rhode Island the following year. The second suit began in October and accused Hancock of illegally unloading 100 caskets of wine without paying the duty on them. This was a highly public trial in a vice admiralty court that had no jury and often barred Hancock from cross examining witnesses. After dragging on for five months the case was inexplicably dropped, probably for lack of evidence. Hancock's alleged involvement in smuggling has never been proven by historians, even though he has the reputation of being a first rate smuggler. All of the concrete evidence that exists of Boston merchants involved in smuggling does not contain any references to Hancock. Of course, smuggling was a clandestine affair for which records were not kept. Most likely he was peripherally involved in smuggling, but does not deserve the "King of Colonial Smugglers" title which he has been given. The Liberty affair cemented Hancock as a martyr and patriot in the eyes of fellow colonists.
In September, Hancock and other Boston selectmen called for a mass "town meeting" to be held at Faneuil Hall in Boston. He sent a letter to towns across Massachusetts inviting them to send representatives to address the Townshend Acts. 96 towns were represented at the meeting held on September 28th. They produced a list of grievances and passed several resolutions condemning the Acts. You can read the text of the circular letter sent by John Hancock and the other Boston selectmen here. Two days after this meeting, British soldiers arrived and began their military occupation of Boston.
Tension between colonists and British soldiers turned bloody in March 1770 when soldiers fired on a crowd that was taunting them. This event became known as the Boston Massacre. Afterwards, John Hancock led a delegation from the city that met with the Governor and the Colonel in charge of the troops and demanded that they remove the troops from the city or else 10,000 armed colonists would march on Boston. The officials knew this was a bluff, but also knew the soldiers presence in town could incite more violence and so removed the troops to Castle William in the harbor. Hancock was celebrated as a hero for helping get the troops out of town and was reelected to the House of Representatives nearly unanimously in May.
The Townshend Acts were repealed in 1770 and things quieted down in Boston. In April, 1772, Governor Hutchinson tried to pull John Hancock into his camp by appointing him colonel of the Boston Cadets. This was a militia unit that was in charge of providing a ceremonial escort for the governor and General Court. In May, Hutchinson also approved Hancock's election to the Council, which was the Upper Chamber of the General Court. The Council was elected by the legislature, but their choices could be vetoed by the governor. Hancock had been elected to this position several times before, but the governor had always vetoed his election. John Hancock declined the position however, not wanting to seem as if he was in the governor's hand.
In 1773, Hancock was involved in the public revelation of some of Governor Hutchinson's private letters which recommended to Parliament that the rights of the colonists to govern themselves should be taken away in degrees. Benjamin Franklin had sent the letters from England to patriot leaders in Boston, but asked that they be kept private. Hancock, Samuel Adams and others were involved in getting the letters published in the Boston Gazette in June. Hutchinson was forced out of office as a result of the outcry.
In 1773, Parliament passed the Tea Act, which placed a tax on imported tea. The colonists were outraged at yet another attempt by Parliament to tax them. John Hancock was appointed moderator of a Boston Town Meeting on November 5th that adopted a resolution stating that anyone who supported the Tea Act was an "Enemy of America." Hancock and others tried to force out the agents appointed to collect the tax, but were unsuccessful. In December, three ships with tea arrived in Boston Harbor and Hancock was present at a meeting where the colonists planned to prevent the unloading of the tea. He allegedly said at the meeting, "Let every man do what is right in his own eyes." On the evening of December 16th, disguised colonists boarded the ships and threw the tea into the harbor. Hancock was not present at the Boston Tea Party, but approved of the action, though he was careful not to endorse the destruction of private property publicly. Once the event was known in England, Parliament shut down the harbor with a naval blockade called the Boston Port Act and sent more soldiers to Boston, which helped precipitate the Revolutionary War.
Parliament passed a series of acts known as the Intolerable Acts to gain better control of Boston. The acts took away the right of the colonists to elect people to most public offices and gave the right to the Royal Governor instead, forced colonists to house British troops on their own property, severely limited the colonists from holding town meetings and gave the governor the right to send trials of royal officials to other colonies or even back to England if he thought they couldn't get a fair trial in Massachusetts. These acts caused great alarm in all the British colonies, which feared that England would try to take away their rights as well.
On March 5, 1774, John Hancock was chosen to give the annual address at a public commemoration to those who died in the Boston Massacre. He delivered a scathing attack on the British government that cemented his popularity in the eyes of the people. The speech was reprinted in newspapers around the colonies. Read the John Hancock Boston Massacre Oration here.
Later that year, Governor Hutchinson was replaced with a new governor, General Thomas Gage, who arrived to enforce the Intolerable Acts. Gage removed Hancock from his position as colonel of the Boston Cadets. In October, Gage cancelled the regular meeting of the Massachusetts Colonial Legislature. In response, the House of Representatives met on their own independently as the Massachusetts Provincial Congress, completely free of all British rule. John Hancock was elected President of the Provincial Congress and to its powerful Committee of Safety. The Provincial Congress created the minutemen divisions that were to be ready to respond to a call to arms at a minute's notice. John Hancock helped finance them.
The Revolutionary War begins!
On December 1, 1774, the Provincial Congress elected John Hancock as a representative to the Second Continental Congress, which was to meet in Philadelphia in May, 1775 to coordinate colonial protests against Britain and defense of colonial rights. In February, 1775, Hancock was reelected President of the Provincial Congress. Hancock attended the Provincial Congress in Concord in April. When it was over, believing it was too dangerous to go back to Boston, he and Samuel Adams decided to stay in Lexington before leaving to attend the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. On the night of April 18th, General Gage sent a detachment of troops to Concord to confiscate the colonists' supplies of arms and ammunition held there. They would have to pass through Lexington on the way. Gage had received a letter from Lord Dartmouth instructing him "to arrest the principal actors and abettors in the Provincial Congress whose proceedings appear in every light to be acts of treason and rebellion." General Gage's order that night instructed the soldiers to capture the patriots' arms, but did not specifically mention capturing Hancock and Adams. The patriot's however believed they were in imminent danger and Joseph Warren dispatched Paul Revere and William Dawes to warn Hancock and Adams that the British were coming for them and to warn the towns of Lexington and Concord to prepare for battle. Revere and Dawes arrived in Lexington around midnight with the warning. Hancock immediately began preparing his gun and dispatched someone to start ringing the bell at the local meeting house which rung all night, arousing the sleeping citizens and calling them to arms. It took some time for Reverend Clark, with whom they were staying, and Samuel Adams to persuade Hancock that it was not in the best interest of Massachusetts for someone in his position to be caught fighting the enemy, but that he would be more useful in governing. Hancock's aunt Lydia was also there, as well as Dorothy Quincy, Hancock's future wife and a cousin of Lydia's, who had been staying with the Hancocks on Beacon Hill. Hancock and Adams escaped town and the first shots of the American Revolution were fired at dawn on Lexington Green.
Hancock made his way to Philadelphia where he was elected President of the Second Continental Congress, where he oversaw the war efforts of the entire colonies.
After the events at Lexington and Concord, General Gage issued a pardon to everyone that would "lay down their arms, and return to the duties of peaceable subjects…" – EXCEPT for Samuel Adams and John Hancock! Read General Gage's Proclamation here.
… and THAT is how John Hancock got involved in the War of Independence!
Did he see military action during the war?
John Hancock was appointed Senior Major general of the Massachusetts militia in 1776, but was away most of the time in his duties as President of the Continental Congress. In the summer of 1778, he got his chance for military action however. The French fleet had just come to help the Americans and General Washington ordered an attack on the British troops at Newport, Rhode Island. General John Sullivan led the American troops. John Hancock returned to Boston to lead 6,000 militiamen into the Newport campaign, although he let the more seasoned soldiers do all the planning. Thousands of Americans marched to Newport, but the Battle of Rhode Island was a disaster for the Americans when the French Admiral D'Estaing pulled out and did not land his troops after a bad storm damaged his fleet. Much of Hancock's militia deserted. He and the other generals involved were criticized for the failed operation. D'Estaing's fleet went to Boston for repairs, but the citizens of Boston were angry with them for the failed mission. John Hancock quickly went back to Boston to try to relieve tensions between the two groups. A riot ensued the day the French landed in Boston and animosity was high between the French soldiers and Boston's patriots. Hancock reached out to the French, inviting 40 officers a day to dine at his house and throwing a ball for 500 soldiers. The effort helped calm the French soldiers, but Hancock still referred to them as "Philistines" in this private letter when they came to his house – John Hancock letter to Henry Quincy, August 30, 1778. Some commentators credit Hancock's intervention with the continuing participation of France in the war. The French were so angry with the Americans' disgust with their pulling out of Rhode Island that they came near to pulling out altogether. Hancock's diplomacy may have changed their minds and ensured their involvement, which would be crucial to winning the war in the days ahead.
John Hancock Facts – Accomplishments during the war
On June 17th, 1775 Congress appointed George Washington as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. In his role as President of Congress, John Hancock signed George Washington's commission.
George Washington's Commission signed by John Hancock
On July 9, 1778, John Hancock signed the Articles of Confederation. This was the first governing document for the new states. Delegates from seven states signed the document, but the other states were not yet ready to accept the new form of government so the Articles would not be ratified until 1781. The Articles of Confederation featured a very weak central government that was not strong enough to sustain itself. Consequently, the Articles were done away with and the United States Constitution took its place.
In October of 1780 the new Massachusetts Constitution went into effect. John Hancock was elected the first Governor of Massachusetts, a position he was continually reelected to for the rest of his life, with the exception of a period from 1785 to 1787 when he resigned, saying he was too sick to run again. His resignation was a probably a result of the increased tumult in the countryside that became known as Shay's rebellion. There were great economic difficulties during this period and the farmers in the countryside were blaming the government. Hancock's policies as governor may have contributed to the economic problems and, as Governor of Massachusetts, he was an easy target. Once the conflict was over and dealt with by his successor, Governor James Bowdoin, Hancock ran again and was reelected continuously until his death.
While he was President of Congress, John Hancock oversaw – the appointment of George Washington as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army; the Declaration of Independence; and the defeat of General Burgoyne at Saratoga, a major turning point in the war.
Offices Hancock Held
John Hancock Facts – Which government offices did he hold?
Selectman, Town Council of Boston 1765 – 1774
Massachusetts Representative to the Stamp Act Congress – October, 1765
Under Royal Government, Representative to Massachusetts House of Representatives, May 1766 – 1774
Overseer and Colonel of Boston Cadets, the Royal Governor's personal guard, April, 1772 – 1774
Massachusetts General Court, this is the upper house of the Legislature, an advisory position to the Royal Governor – May 1772 – 1774
Treasurer of Harvard University, 1773
Elected President of Massachusetts Provincial Congress – 1774 – 1775
Massachusetts delegate to Second Continental Congress, December 1774 – 1780
President of Second Continental Congresses, May 24, 1775 – October, 1777
Sat on the Marine Committee in the Continental Congress, helping create a fleet of thirteen frigates for the colonists, including the USS John Hancock.
First Major General of the Massachusetts Militia, February 8, 1776 –
President of Massachusetts State Convention to accept Articles of Confederation, January, 1778
President of Massachusetts State Constitutional Convention, 1780
Governor of Massachusetts, 1780 – 1785 and 1786 – 1793
Massachusetts representative to Confederation Congress, 1785 – 1786
Again elected President of the Continental Congress on November 23, 1785, but resigned May 29, 1786, not having served due to illness
President of Massachusetts Convention to ratify the US Constitution, January 1788
Did he hold any office under the Royal government?
Representative to Massachusetts House of Representatives, May 1766 – 1774
John Hancock Facts – Which party was he in?
John Hancock was believed to be an anti-Federalist at the beginning of the Constitutional question. He believed the new Constitution gave the federal government too much power at the expense of the states and that it did not protect the people's rights. During the Massachusetts Ratifying Convention, of which he was elected President, he was approached by Federalists who supported the Constitution. They persuaded him to put his support behind the Constitution if a Bill of Rights was added that specifically listed the protected rights of the people that could not be infringed upon by the government. The Federalists may have also hinted to Hancock that they would support his election as the first President of the United States if he supported them. Hancock put his support behind the Constitution if it had a Bill of Rights. He addressed the Ratification Convention and encouraged their support, stating that their concerns about the rights of the people would be protected by a Bill of Rights. Enough of them were persuaded to ratify the Constitution by a narrow margin. The Constitution would probably not have been ratified by Massachusetts if it had not been for Hancock's support. After the ratification, the Federalists were thrilled with Hancock and continued to vote for him and support his political career, electing him as Governor of Massachusetts every year until his death.
Interesting Personal Information
John Hancock was a boyhood acquaintance of young John Adams, who would become another Revolutionary War patriot and the 2nd President of the United States. They grew up in the same town and Hancock was about a year and a half older than Adams.
John Hancock was only 27 years old when his uncle Thomas died and left him his business, the House of Hancock, making John one of the wealthiest men in the colonies.
Hancock inherited what was thought to be the most valuable tract of land in New England at his uncle's death, most of it was inhabited, however, by Loyalists. John also did most of his business dealings with Loyalists, who were in positions of influence and authority. This did not stop him from supporting the patriot cause however. John Hancock was known for his populism and support of the common man.
In 1772, John Hancock commissioned the famous Boston portrait painter John Singleton Copley to paint portraits of Samuel Adams and of himself. Copley was Hancock's neighbor on Beacon Hill. The painting of his political mentor Samuel Adams, is the most famous painting of Adams. The two portraits hung in John Hancock's mansion for 50 years. Then they were moved to Faneuil Hall. Today the originals are housed in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
Samuel Adams Portrait by John Singleton Copley
When John Hancock was elected President of the Continental Congress, he was chosen by a unanimous vote.
Hancock was sometimes criticized for his lavish style and luxurious tastes. Of course, he was used to a life of opulence because he was one of the wealthiest men in the colonies, having inherited his uncle's wealthy import/export business, the House of Hancock. Hancock was known for his extravagant clothing and while serving as President of the Second Continental Congress he rode in a fancy chariot escorted by fifty armed horsemen plus servants!
In 1774, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress issued a proclamation for a day of Thanksgiving to God. John Hancock was president and the proclamation was signed by him. It was the first proclamation issued in the colonies with no mention of King George III.
Other John Hancock Facts
John Hancock was known as Johnny when he was a boy.
Around the time John Hancock arrived in Philadelphia to attend the Continental Congress, where he was chosen its President, his home back in Boston had been taken over and was being lived in by General Henry Clinton, commander of the British forces occupying Boston. Soldiers would camp out in his yard and cut the fence down for firewood.
When John Hancock went to London for business at 23, he traveled with Governor Thomas Pownall, former governor of Massachusetts, whom John's uncle Thomas had enlisted to escort the boy.
Shortly before the Battles of Lexington and Concord, British soldiers tarred and feathered a local citizen. John Hancock was part of a committee that investigated the matter. He was targeted by angry British soldiers who hacked up the fence around his house with swords and entered his grounds where they threatened that his house and stable would soon be in their hands.
On June 15, 1775, the Continental Congress, including the other Massachusetts delegates, nominated George Washington to be the Commander of the Continental Army. John Adams wrote many years later that John Hancock was very disappointed that he had not been named to the position himself. Adams said Hancock was visibly upset when he first found out, but from then on he did not show his disappointment and supported Washington in every way he could.
In late 1775, when the Continental Army was surrounding Boston, it was proposed that the Army bombard Boston and destroy the entire town. John Hancock would have lost everything, but he agreed to the plan anyway, believing the cause to be more important than his personal wealth.
Hancock received an enormous amount of wealth and a thriving business when his uncle Thomas died, but Hancock was not the best manager. Hancock closed the House of Hancock permanently in 1775. Business was becoming harder and harder to operate with pressure from the British government and due to colonial boycotts of British goods. Hancock also made some unwise business decisions, all of which contributed to his declining business. The closing of his business may have also been the reason he became so heavily involved in politics.
When the British cordoned off Boston in 1775, many leading citizens and patriots fled the city until calmer times prevailed. Lydia Hancock, John Hancock's aunt and Dorothy Quincy, his fiance, went to Fairfield, Connecticut where they stayed in the home of Thaddeus Burr, an old family friend. Thaddeus Burr was a local politician and wealthy landowner. His brother, Aaron Burr, Sr. was a minister and co-founder of Princeton. Aaron's wife Esther was the daughter of the famous Great Awakening minister Jonathan Edwards. Aaron and Esther were the parents of Aaron Burr, Jr., who became a Revolutionary War hero, future Senator from New York and Vice President under Thomas Jefferson. Later, Aaron was famously involved in a duel with Alexander Hamilton in which Hamilton was killed.
During the time Lydia and Dorothy were staying with Thaddeus Burr, the young Aaron Burr came to live with him for a time. Aaron had been raised by his uncle, Timothy Edwards, in New Jersey after his parents' death, but he was attending law school in Litchfield, Connecticut, not far from Thaddeus Burr's home in Fairfield, when the war broke out. Aaron was a very handsome and charming young man that many young women had their eye on. Dorothy Quincy was one of the most eligible young women in Boston and even though she was engaged to John Hancock, she expressed interest in Aaron Burr in private letters. Lydia Hancock was aware that John might be left behind if a flame was kindled between Dorothy and Aaron and she refused to let them spend even one moment together alone.
Soon Aaron was called into military service, where he became a Revolutionary War hero at the Battles of Quebec and Manhattan. John Hancock returned to Fairfield during a congressional break in the summer of 1775 and he and Dorothy were married at Thaddeus Burr's home on August 28. Dorothy then moved to Philadelphia with John, where she stayed at the same inn where many of the congressional representatives were staying… one woman with 100 men, according to John Adams, who wrote about Dorothy's polite manners in a letter to his wife Abigail.
Lydia Hancock was preparing to go back to Boston in April 1776 after the British army finally left the town. She died of a stroke on April 15 just before her planned departure. She was buried in Fairfield under a gravestone erected by Thaddeus Burr.
In 1779, Fairfield was invaded by the British and many homes were destroyed, including the home of Thaddeus Burr. Eunice Burr, Thaddeus' wife was at home when the army invaded. Many leading citizens had fled the town, but she stayed in hopes that her presence would prevent the soldiers from entering her home. She pleaded with Governor Tryon, a long time family friend, to prevent the soldiers from destroying their belongings, but the home was destroyed and the soldiers stole the ring off her finger and the silver buckles off her shoes.
Shortly afterwards, John Hancock surveyed the destroyed home with Thaddeus Burr and they talked about rebuilding. John told Thaddeus that if he would build himself a replica of Hancock's Beacon Hill home, he would pay for the windows for the entire house. Thaddeus took him up on the offer and built an exact replica of Hancock Manor. The home still stands today on Old Post Road in Fairfield. The home looks somewhat different now than it did originally because it was remodeled in the 1840's. The dormers were removed and a large veranda and columns were added to the front. The home is now owned by the City of Fairfield and can be rented out for events.
Thaddeus Burr Home
Read on for more John Hancock Facts
In 1767, John gave 1,098 books to Harvard's library. Here is a list of the books in John Hancock's personal library upon his death.
As governor, John Hancock encouraged passage of a law that required towns with at least 200 people to employ school teachers who could teach their students Greek and Latin. Smaller towns had to have teachers who were proficient in English.
In 1822, former President John Adams deeded property to the city of Quincy, Massachusetts to be used for a church and a boys school. Part of the property he gave was the site of the home John Hancock was born in and that was later home to Josiah Quincy Sr. and Josiah Quincy, Jr. That house burned down in 1760. Adams specified that the boys school be built on the site of Hancock's home. The Adams Academy opened in 1872 and functioned until 1908. Today the building is owned by the Quincy Historical Society and contains a museum about the history of Quincy from Indian times until today. Visit the Quincy Historical Society website here.
Adams Academy – Quincy, Massachusetts
John Hancock suffered from gout for most of his life, which is a debilitating joint disease. This is the reason why he left public office a few times and was often not able to serve.
On the day John Hancock resigned as President of Congress due to ill health, Congress drew up a letter of thanks for his service. Several members, including Samuel Adams, blocked the letter though, because they thought it was inappropriate to express thanks to a President of Congress. Hancock was offended by Adams' sleight and their relationship was never the same again. Both had differing views and fell into different factions as the new nation was formed. Their earlier political partnership ended as the new republic was beginning.
John Hancock's finances suffered tremendously during the war, but he remained popular and was known for his philanthropy, helping widows and orphans, loaning money to those in need, assisting people who lost businesses and homes in Boston's many fires and helping to rebuild the city after the Revolutionary War.
John Hancock was 39 years old when he signed the Declaration of Independence.
John Hancock's fortune diminished considerably during the Revolutionary War. In 1781 he wrote Robert Morris, a financier of the Revolution, asking if Congress would reimburse him for his expenses when he was President of Congress. He estimated that 1,500 pounds would not be enough to cover all his expenses. There is no record showing that he was ever paid for his service.
One of John Hancock's most important contributions to the Revolutionary War was to accept the Continental currency for payment from his debtors. This was money printed by Congress to pay its debts. Many people doubted its worth and would not accept it as payment. Hancock, however, accepted it, in an effort to increase the nation's faith in the fledgling government.
More Interesting John Hancock Facts
John Hancock received 4 electoral votes to become the first President of the United States in 1789, but of course George Washington was the victor. Hancock's fellow Boston politician John Adams received the second highest number of votes and thus became Vice President.
In the first election for governor of the new State of Massachusetts in 1780, John Hancock received 11,000 out of 12,281 votes, showing his huge popularity there.
John Hancock was elected nine times as Governor of Massachusetts, frequently with more than 80% of the vote.
John Hancock was elected President of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress that ratified the Massachusetts Constitution. This Constitution abolished slavery in the new state.
As governor of Massachusetts, John Hancock encouraged and supported the passage of a law that banned all recreation on Sunday and encouraged people to go to church.
After John Hancock's death, his wife, Dorothy, married Captain James Scott, a long time ship captain who had worked for her husband. She dined with the Marquis de Lafayette during his famous tour of the United States in 1825 and reminisced about the events of fifty years before. She died in 1830, thirtyseven years after John Hancock.
The US Constitution was narrowly accepted by the Massachusetts ratifying convention. John Hancock served as President of the Convention and gave a last minute speech urging acceptance if the new Congress promised to pass a Bill of Rights. Many credit this speech with the Convention's approval of the Constitution.
Most biographers acknowledge that John Hancock was very lavish and ostentatious and may have been overly interested in public praise and appearances. They also, however, acknowledge that Hancock's patriotism moved him to risk losing all the grandeur, pomp and prestige that his wealth afforded him, by choosing to take a strong stand against Britain, in order to obtain his greater love – liberty.
John Hancock was considered for President in 1789 when George Washington was elected. He was also considered strongly for vice president, especially in the South. He was again talked about for President in 1785 by the southern states.
Ten states have a Hancock County named for John Hancock. Hancock, Massachusetts; Hancock, New York; Mount Hancock, New Hampshire; and Hancock, Michigan are also named after him.
The John Hancock Insurance Company was founded in Boston in 1862, but it has no personal connection to Hancock or his business. The John Hancock Tower in Boston and the John Hancock Center in Chicago take their names from this company.
John Hancock Tower
John Hancock was the Treasurer of Harvard from 1773 to 1777. He was serving as President of Congress at this time, was outside Massachusetts most of the time and was overseeing the war. He neglected to take care of matters back at Harvard and was eventually accused of mismanaging funds. Harvard appointed another treasurer in his place. Hancock probably didn't take the funds himself, but some money disappeared in the neglect. Hancock was embarrassed by the incident and paid $22,000 back to Harvard. In 1785, Hancock admitted he still owed $1,500 to Harvard, which wasn't paid until after his death from his estate.
The US Navy has had six ships named after John Hancock. The USS Hancock, below, was a World War II aircraft carrier that saw action in the Philippines and Japan. It suffered a kamikaze attack during the war, but was repaired. The ship continued in service through the Vietnam era and was involved in the South Vietnamese evacuation of Saigon and finally retired permanently in 1976 and sold for scrap.
USS Hancock
The USS John Hancock was a destroyer launched in 1977. It was involved in the Persian Gulf War, but never saw any other major action. It was decommissioned in 2000 and scrapped in 2007.
John Hancock Facts – Works and Quotes
Selected works by and about John Hancock
Thomas Hancock letter, May 21, 1760 – This letter was written from Thomas Hancock, John's adoptive uncle, to his business partners in London, when he sent John there on business, instructing them to take care of John when he arrives.
John Hancock letter to Dorothy Hancock, May 7, 1775 – John Hancock wrote this letter to his wife after escaping from Massachusetts and arriving in New York safely to attend the Continental Congress.
John Hancock Wedding Announcement, September 4, 1775 – This wedding announcement appeared in the New York Gazette seven days after he married Dorothy Quincy.
John Hancock Letter to George Washington, July 6, 1776 – Hancock sent this letter to George Washington with a copy of the brand new Declaration of Independence, asking him to read it to the troops.
John Hancock letter to New Jersey Convention, July 16, 1776 – John Hancock wrote this letter asking for the New Jersey Convention to send troops to New York as quickly as possible. It gives a good sense of the urgency of the times.
John Hancock letter to Dorothy Hancock, March 10, 1777 – This letter shows the frustration and loneliness Hancock was facing during the war. John had returned to Philadelphia alone while Dorothy and their daughter were in Baltimore, where Congress had fled during the occupation of Philadelphia.
John Hancock resignation letter as President of Congress, October 1777 – Hancock asked for a leave of absence for two months in this letter due to his health, but he did not return to the office.
George Washington letter to John Hancock, October 22, 1777 – Washington wrote this letter to John Hancock after Hancock informed him he would be taking a leave of absence from his role as President of Congress. Hancock intended to resume his duties in a few months, but never returned to the position.
Boston town meeting resolution regarding the return of Tories, August, 1778 – This resolution was passed by the town meeting of Boston after receiving a report from a committee chaired by John Hancock refusing the request of Tories to return to Boston.
Quotes by John Hancock
"Let every man do what is right in his own eyes." – An alleged quote from Hancock at a meeting to plan the Boston Tea Party.
John Hancock made his last public appearance on September 18, 1793, when he appeared before the Massachusetts Legislature. He told the legislators that he was so ill that they wouldn't be able to hear him if he spoke, so he sat by as the Secretary of State read his address. At the end of the address, Hancock made the following remarks, "I rely upon your candor to pardon this mode of addressing you. I feel the seeds of mortality growing fast within me. But I think I have, in this case, done no more than my duty, as a servant of the people. I never did and I never will deceive them while I have life and strength to act in their service."
Hancock died three weeks later on October 3, 1793.
Quotes about John Hancock
"It having pleased the Supreme Being, since your last meeting, in his holy Providence to remove from this transitory life our late excellent Governor Hancock, the multitude of his surviving fellow-citizens, who have often given strong testimonials of their approbation of his important services, while they drop a tear, may certainly profit by the recollection of his virtuous and patriotic example." – Opening remarks of acting Governor of Massachusetts, Samuel Adams, in the first legislative session to meet after John Hancock's death, January, 1794
"Washington was in the minds of so many of the stanchest members that nothing could be done short of conceding to them. Mr. Hancock himself had an ambition to be appointed commander-in-chief. Whether he thought an election a compliment due him, and intended to have the honor of declining it, or whether he would have accepted it, I know not. To the compliment he had some pretensions, for at that time his exertions, sacrifices, and general merits in the cause of his country had been incomparably greater than those of Colonel Washington. But the delicacy of his health, and his entire want of experience in actual service, though an excellent militia officer, were decisive objections to him in my mind." – John Adams speaking about the selection of George Washington as Commander of the Continental Army rather than John Hancock
"The two young men whom I have known to enter the stage of life with the most luminous, unclouded prospects, and the best founded hopes, were James Otis and John Hancock. They were both essential to the Revolution, and both fell sacrifices to it… They were the first movers, the most constant, steady, persevering springs, agents, and most disinterested sufferers, and firmest pillars, of the whole Revolution." – John Adams letter to Judge Tudor, June 5, 1813
"Of Mr. Hancock's life, character, generous nature, great and distinguished sacrifices and important services, if I had forces, I should be glad to write a volume. But this I hope will be done by some younger and abler hand." – John Adams letter to Jedidiah Morse, 1818.
In 1894, the government of Massachusetts decided to erect a monument over Hancock's grave. At the dedication service in 1896, Governor Roger Wolcott made the following statement about Hancock:
"As we look back upon that period of the revolution, to the events that led up to it, there is one figure, among others, that stands with peculiar significance to the public mind. That figure is John Hancock. A man of dignity of presence, fond of elaborate ceremonial, elegant in his attire, courtly in his manner, a man of education and great wealth for that time, and a man who threw himself heart and soul into the patriotic duties of the hour. I think we especially connect his name and memory with three acts. In the first place, we remember that in the proclamation of amnesty there were two names excepted; one was that of John Hancock, the other that of Samuel Adams. We remember that when Paul Revere rode out into Middlesex County to warn the farmers of the approach of British troops, John Hancock and Samuel Adams were slumbering quietly in the little village of Lexington, and that their capture was accounted as important to the British cause as the capture or destruction of the ammunition which they were sent out to seize. We especially remember John Hancock again as president of the Continental Congress, and as the first to sign, in his bold, fine signature, his name to that immortal declaration, in which those who signed it pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to the cause of liberty."
John Hancock Facts – The end of his life
Date and age of retirement
John Hancock continued to serve as the Governor of Massachusetts right up until his death, although in the last several years he was practically a figurehead because of his poor health.
Death of John Hancock
John Hancock died on October 8, 1793 at 56 years of age. He died in bed with his wife at his side. Acting Governor Samuel Adams declared the day of his funeral a state holiday. Hancock's funeral was attended by thousands who came from all over Massachusetts. The funeral procession stretched a mile and a half long and included judges, members of Congress, Vice President John Adams, former Councillors and Senators, the President, Board and professors of Harvard and numerous other officials.
Where was John Hancock buried?
John Hancock is buried in the Old Granary Burying Ground, Boston, Massachusetts. This is Boston's third oldest cemetery and is named for the granary building that once stood next door. The memorial was erected over Hancock's grave by the State of Massachusetts in 1895. Other Revolutionary War figures buried in the cemetery include Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, James Otis, Robert Treat Paine, the parents of Benjamin Franklin and the five people killed in the Boston Massacre.
John Hancock Grave
Epitaph on gravestone
This memorial erected A.D. MDCCCXCV by the commonwealth of Massachusetts to mark the grave of John Hancock.
Test your knowledge of John Hancock with our John Hancock Crossword Puzzle.
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If you enjoyed reading these John Hancock Facts, you will also like to read the following Revolutionary War Facts:
George Washington Facts
Benjamin Franklin Facts
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George Lang: One of the Hardest Workers in the Business of Politics
Cliffhanger the Overmanwarrior	Budget problems, Conservative politics, Justice, Literature, Politics, Progressive, Rich Hoffman, Taxes	 January 26, 2020 January 25, 2020 5 Minutes
Three years ago yesterday, Debbie and I were lucky enough to attend the inauguration of President @realDonaldTrump. I will never forget that experience! pic.twitter.com/3P7DZUtETn
— Rep. George Lang (@LangForOhio) January 21, 2020
I really can't say enough about how good George Lang is. Yes, I've known him for a long time and watched him navigate through the kind of political waters that would sink most people, but his raw optimism and hope in everyday people has really put him into a category all his own. He's in full campaign mode now for his 4th District Senate run in Ohio as the primary is coming up in March and I just have to say that I don't know anybody who works harder and is more honest at it than him. I tend to judge people based on how hard they work and even though his personality and beliefs are not new to me, which is why I always support George Lang in anything he does, it really has been his work ethic for this senate seat that has impressed me most recently. He has been astonishing in the work he has been willing to put into the effort, even though he is the clear front runner. He's already in the House of Representatives representing the same essential district, so his workload is spoken for, but seeing the crowd he was able to draw at a fundraiser this past week, and the quality of his supporters would impress anybody, even those not so inclined to political tides and concerns.
We had an amazing event last night in Liberty Township. I'm blessed to have the support of so many people in our community. Special thanks to Senate Majority Leader @matthuffman1 for joining us. pic.twitter.com/6Lw1UKBD5c
The fundraiser was held at a very nice home in Liberty Township complete with its own bowling alley, which everyone seems to have these days in such a wonderful land of opportunity that has evolved in that area. The crowd that George was able to muster would impress even the most rigorous national politician, and it takes that kind of ability to play the game at that level. While most media would cover such an event with the obvious hatred toward businesspeople and the money they tend to make—purely out of jealousy—George's pro-business platform and track record already at the state level would impress anybody. What a lot of people who don't have bowling alleys in their basement don't know is that business owners and investors have had a tough road to run for many decades as the political class could have cast themselves straight out of the villains of an Ayn Rand novel, and they have had to tip toe around government in all sorts of ways just to make a decent living always with a weary eye toward some government imposed audit, or regulatory tyranny. If they treat themselves to a bowling alley in their basement or a nice car nobody should begrudge them, because most of the time, those types of people work 12 to 15 hour days and worry constantly 24 hours a day to provide jobs for people and to always stay ahead in tough, competitive business markets. They need someone they can trust, and George Lang has provided them with that option, so its good to see they see that and have shown up to support him when needed.
Gave testimony yesterday on HB 433 in the Health Committee. This bill is aimed at putting Ohio businesses first! pic.twitter.com/CPveshtHFP
Most politicians have to pander to the business class type of donors to some extent or another, but they don't often openly embrace business leaders the way that George does because of the media stigma that has existed for well over a century, created by the Karl Marx types that are so openly bred in our colleges and public education institutions these days. By the way intelligentsia treats business owners and leaders its amazing that anybody even wants to try to be anything but a paycheck puncher and nothing more. For even the most ambitious people find the lack of respect that is cast against any business owner a barrier to the kind of risks and personal dedication that it takes to be a job provider. If not for those who want some trappings of wealth to enjoy as a result of the massive amount of work and worry that it takes, nobody may attempt it. Luckily in America, and especially in the 4th District of Ohio there are plenty of people still willing to do such work and George has positioned himself to represent them, as well as all the people who enjoy jobs from such an endeavor. Because if not for people like the hosts of that fundraiser for George, with the nice bowling alley serving as a podium for the ever enthusiastic Lang, Liberty Township wouldn't be such a paradise of unemployment and wealth generation that makes even the least ambitious person living in the area one of the luckiest people on earth due to the opportunities afforded to them by the hard working and industrious.
It was a pleasure to speak along with special guests Congressman @Jim_Jordan and Congresswoman @Liz_Cheney at tonight's Associated Builders and Contractors "Road to the White House" event. It was wonderful to see so many friends and supporters in the business community! pic.twitter.com/aeOcdiubXq
I've been to these kinds of things a lot, and to be honest, the efforts usually look phony to me. Politicians are forced to play both sides of the fence, they pander to the business owner for money, then boot lick the "worker" as termed by the Marx movement that has so infected several generations of people for over a century, as if they were polar opposites. What very few politicians have ever successfully made a proper connection to is that one makes the other, not the other way around, and that George through his own hard work represents them all authentically, not in the way of the phony that other politicians have managed. Authenticity of purpose is one of the rarest commodities and its wonderful to see that so many people recognize that trait in George and have been willing to put their money where their mouth is. They can see as I do the hard work that George Lang has been willing to put into everything he does, and they see him as a good investment. Not in the way that politics has been known to purchase power and prestige by selling away access, but in getting yield and support from a representative who actually does the work and is tireless in the effort.
I'm grateful to our Congressman @WarrenDavidson for taking us to the exact spot where President Trump was sworn in three years ago! pic.twitter.com/J1r0GSlsGX
When businesses thrive, everything that cascades off those wonderful industries improves the lives of everyone connected. For many people waking up in the morning knowing that there is a job out there with their name on it is one of the most treasured items in their lives. That is how they raise their families, pay their mortgages, their car payments, it funds all the things they want to be and hope to achieve. But the efforts to run a business and to own a business often is one of the most overlooked elements of our culture with old prejudices well established by other elements that permeate the thoughts of even the most logical. And its so refreshing to see that George Lang sees beyond all that to the truth, and in the manner of his extremely hard work, optimistic spirit, and sheer honesty, that he is unlike most any other politician that has ever ran for office. The speeches might sound similar at times as many politicians are gifted orators, but they aren't like George Lang who expects to be more of a representative to everyone in his district than even comes from his presentations of himself. He's as hard of a worker as the hardest worker in any position, and he offers himself as a friend to the start of all economic activity, the business owners and industrialists who need representation to work their magic, which of course benefits everyone. In that way, George Lang's campaign is unusually honest, and is something that even those not very interested in politics could be proud of and feel some connection to due to the authenticity and stamina of its candidate. George Lang is impressive, but that's because what's underneath is even better than the package.
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Electrical discharge machining used on live reactor pipeline system
US-based machining specialist Hydratight has become the first company to use electrical discharge machining (EDM) for maintenance work. The company said it had completed the "technically challenging campaign" for a major energy company at a US power station as part of post-Fukushima upgrades. According to Hydratight, the use of EDM avoided an expensive unplanned shutdown of the reactor for the operator and took 48 hours off the reactor outage schedule. The EDM process used a heated solid electrode to accurately cut a hole within the reactor feed water line then removed microscopic cuttings using back-flushing and vacuums. It prevented 99.5% of foreign material exclusion (FME) particles, such as drill cuttings and debris, from entering the reactor, which can cause contaminations and lead to unplanned outage.
Mike Riordan, Hydratight's nuclear specialty services manager, said: "The work has created another way to feed water into the main line if there is ever a power loss to the reactor." He added: "Tool pressure was also a concern on this particular project, so we were able to use a method which was completely contactless." The line had water pressure of 120 PSI and electrical conductance exceeding 3,500 micro-siemens. Hydratight's specialty services deployed customised tooling to negotiate a 15-inch-long, 1-inch wide pipe as an entry point to reach the spot where the ¾-inch EDM penetration was to take place.
EDM is typically deployed as an alternative to mechanical methods, such as drilling and hot-tapping, during planned outages. As well as preventing FME particles from entering process piping, the cutting is highly accurate and can maintain a tolerance of .002-inch when making the hole in the pipe, Hydratight said. Hydratight is wholly owned by Actuant Corporation, a diversified industrial company serving customers from operations in more than 30 countries and headquartered in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.


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Blake Wade Pursley
Blake, circa 1994; Age-progression to age 32 (circa 2011)
Missing Since 06/26/1994
Missing From Running Springs, California
Classification Endangered Missing
Date of Birth 08/18/1979 (41)
Height and Weight 5'5, 125 pounds
Clothing/Jewelry Description A purple t-shirt, blue jeans, black Nike sneakers and a black White Sox baseball cap.
Medical Conditions Blake suffers from various medical problems as a result of a near-drowning accident he had as a toddler. He had several surgeries as a child. His difficulties include one paralyzed vocal cord, a life-threatening internal fungus, poor motor skills in his right arm and hand, and seizures. Blake is required to take medication twice daily to prevent his seizures and will be in danger without it. His intelligence is unimpaired, but he has learning and behavioral difficulties and functions at the level of a nine-year-old.
Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian male. Brown hair, blue eyes. Blake has two scars on the back of his head, a scar across his neck, and several scars on his chest. He has surgical scars on his left hip, left knee, left buttock, and back. Some agencies may spell his middle name "Wasde." His left leg is four inches shorter than his right leg and he walks with a limp as a result.
Details of Disappearance
Blake was living at a special needs boarding school, the Cedu School, in Running Springs, California at the time of his disappearance. He had been enrolled in the school only since June 1, and had told his mother he was homesick and wanted to leave.
He was last seen at 8:00 p.m. on June 26, 1994 as he walked to a barn on the property to check on the animals. A staff member saw a light go on in the barn shortly afterwards. Blake did not return to his dormitory by the 10:00 p.m. curfew and and has not been seen again. Searchers tracked him to a nearby highway, but no further.
There were numerous reported sightings of Blake in California and Utah in 1994 and 1995, but none of them have been confirmed. He is from Flagler, Colorado and may be somewhere in that state.
Many agencies classify Blake's disappearance as a runaway. The school officials believe he ran away, but his family thinks he may have been abducted or lured from the school grounds.
Curiously, Blake is not the only student to have disappeared from the Cedu School and never been found; John Inman disappeared from the school in 1993 and Daniel Yuen in 2004. The Cedu School filed for bankruptcy and closed in 2005.
No suspects have been identified in Blake's disappearance and his case remains unsolved.
Investigating Agency
San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office 909-336-0600
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
Child Protection Education of America
The Deseret Morning News
The Rocky Mountain News
California Attorney General's Office
Updated 8 times since October 12, 2004. Last updated August 5, 2012; clothing/jewelry description updated.
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I really wanted to add a quilled element to my card. With this card, I cut about an inch off the end of the card. I added a piece of printed victorian paper and put a strip of cream loop edged satin ribbon at the bottom. I stamped the butterfly on a piece of card and cut it out. I glued the butterfly to the front of the card at the bottom, so the base of the butterfly was level with the back to the card (so it would stand up properly). I added some flat backed pearls to the ribbon and to the body of the butterfly. Using a strip of cream paper I made the two quilled hearts and glued them carefully to the card. Would make a nice wedding invitation I thought.


You are cordially invited to attend a sharing session on the University of Sunderland MBA programme.
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Fentanyl: safety recommendations for first responders
Evidence-based recommendations to protect first responders from exposure to fentanyl.
Actions to take
The misuse of drugs containing fentanyl has killed some people in England. As a first responder (law enforcement, fire, rescue, paramedic and emergency department personnel) you may encounter fentanyl in your work, such as responding to overdose calls, conducting traffic stops, arrests and searches.
What you need to know about fentanyl is that:
it can be present in a variety of forms (powders, tablets, capsules, solutions, patches and rocks)
incidental skin contact is unlikely to lead to harmful effects, especially if the contaminated skin is promptly washed with water
inhaling airborne powder is the route most likely to lead to harmful effects, but is less likely to occur than skin contact
personal protective equipment (PPE) is effective in protecting you from exposure
slow breathing or no breathing, drowsiness or unresponsiveness, and constricted or pinpoint pupils may be signs of fentanyl intoxication
naloxone is an effective medication that rapidly reverses the effects of fentanyl
To protect yourself from exposure you should:
wear gloves when you suspect the presence of fentanyl
avoid actions that could cause powder to become airborne
use properly-fitted, British Standard (BS) approved respiratory equipment (mask and filter), wear eye protection, and minimise skin contact when responding to a situation where small amounts of suspected fentanyl are visible and may become airborne (for example, during a police drugs raid or overdose in an area where fentanyl is known to be available)
follow your department's guidelines if the scene involves large amounts of suspected fentanyl (for example at a distribution or storage facility, pill milling operation or clandestine laboratory, or in cases of gross contamination, spill or release)
When exposure occurs you should:
prevent further contamination and notify other first responders and dispatchers
never touch your eyes, mouth, nose or any skin after touching any potentially contaminated surface
wash exposed skin thoroughly with cool water and soap if available – do not use hand sanitisers as they may enhance absorption
wash your hands thoroughly after the incident and before eating, drinking, smoking, or using the toilet
follow your department's guidelines for decontamination if you suspect your clothing, shoes or PPE may be contaminated
If you or other first responders exhibit:
drowsiness or unresponsiveness
constricted or pinpoint pupils
slow breathing or no breathing
Then you or other first responders need to:
Move away from the source of exposure and call an ambulance.
Administer naloxone according to your department protocols – multiple doses may be required.
If naloxone is not available, rescue breathing can be a lifesaving measure until the ambulance arrives – use standard basic life support safety precautions (pocket mask, gloves) to address the exposure risk.
If needed, start CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and continue until the ambulance arrives.
This document was adapted from US guide Fentanyl: safety recommendations for first responders.
For the purposes of this document, the term 'fentanyl' is used to refer to fentanyl itself, fentanyl analogues (for example, acetylfentanyl, acrylfentanyl, carfentanyl, furanylfentanyl), novel synthetic opioids (such as U-47700), and other drugs that may be adulterated or contaminated with these substances.
Fentanyl itself, and especially 'fentanyl' in the names of its analogues, may also be spelt fentanil, especially in US documents, but this use of an 'i' is commonly mixed and inconsistent. For simplicity and consistency, we have kept to the 'y' spelling for fentanyl and all its analogues.
Public Health England's blog on Fentanyl: what's being done to mitigate future problems.
TOXBASE: Clinical toxicology database of the UK National Poisons Information Service provides advice on the features and management of poisoning. It can be accessed at www.toxbase.org and an app can be purchased from app stores.
Health and Safety Executive's guidance on Respiratory protective equipment at work: a practical guide.
The US Drug Enforcement Administration's Fentanyl: a briefing guide for first responders.
The UK National Crime Agency's reports Recent deaths possibly linked to fentanyl and Organised crime group mixed potentially lethal drug fentanyl and posted it around the world.
Substance misuse services for men involved in chemsex
Providing take-home naloxone for opioid overdose
Trends in drug misuse deaths in England
Issuing public health alerts about drugs
Resources for commissioning Let's Get Moving interventions
Preventing and reducing drug-related harm