A Great American Patriot By Mr. Faulk 5 th /6 th Grade 2011

Who Was John Hancock? John Hancock was a patriot who was a key figure in the American Revolution His leadership leading up to the war was essential in the Colonist’s victory Hancock lived his life in service to his country and gave everything to see the dream of the United States come true

Early Years Born: January 12, 1737 in Braintree, Massachusetts Family: Orphaned as a child; raised by his rich uncle Education: Harvard College (graduated at at the age of 17!) Apprenticeship: clerked with his uncle; gained a reputation as an honest and intelligent person

Early Influences Hancock went to England as an apprentice and learned from some of the greatest business minds in Britain Returned to the colonies in 1763 when his uncle passed away He inherited what many believe was the greatest wealth in all New England His return coincided with early British oppression, such as the Proclamation of 1763

Family Hancock married Dorothy Quincy on August 28, 1775 in Fairfield, Connecticut while Congress was on a break His daughter, Lydia Henchman Hancock, was born in 1776, but died 10 months later His son, John George Washington Hancock, was born in 1778, but died at age nine from head injuries he suffered in an ice-skating accident

The Stamp Act Parliament enacted the Stamp Act in 1765, which placed a tax on all paper goods. All paper goods had to have a stamp proving a tax had been paid This tax was a huge burden on Hancock and the business he had just inherited from his uncle Hancock protested against the taxes by resorting to smuggling (which is illegally brining things into a country)

The Patriot Hancock began making friends with prominent Bostonian figures, such as the John Adams, Paul Revere, and Samuel Adams. On the anniversary of the Boston Massacre, Hancock gave a speech in downtown Boston talking about liberty and the tragic events of five years ago. In 1774, Hancock was elected to the Massachusetts Provincial Congress.

Lexington On the night the revolution began, Hancock and Samuel Adams were hiding on a farm near Lexington, Massachusetts About midnight, they were alerted by Paul Revere and William Dawes of the British order to capture them The initially ignored this warning and continued to enjoy “beverages” until about 1:30 in the morning when Paul Revere returned and escorted them to safety Upon arriving in the safe house, Hancock ordered Revere to return to Lexington (where the fighting had already begun) to retrieve an important chest of papers which he had left in the attack of the Buckman Tavern.

The Revolution Hancock was chosen for the Continental Congress in 1774, and selected as President of the Continental Congress in The American Revolution began as British troops marched on Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts on orders to capture John Hancock and Samuel Adams. His leadership during the Revolution helped propel the colonists to victory.

The Declaration Written by Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration of Independence stated all the reasons the Colonists were demanding their independence from Britain John Hancock, as President of the First Continental Congress, was the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence The signers of the Declaration knew the consequences of signing: if they were caught by the British, they would be hanged for treason

The Signature Legend says that Hancock sighed the Declaration large so that “fat, old King George could see it without his spectacles” The story is not true; Hancock was merely the first to sign the Declaration and, since he was the President of the Continental Congress Hancock followed custom by signing in the top center, while others signed together by region

John Hancock is shown in this paining sitting in front of, Adams, Jefferson, and Sherman. Jefferson hands the copy of the Declaration of Independence to Hancock, who is the President of the Continental Congress. The painting still hangs in Independence Hall in Philadelphia. The painting was done by John Trumbull in 1817.Independence Hall Hancock receives the Declaration from Jefferson

The Aristocrat Hancock was criticized by many of his colleagues in the Continental Congress for thinking of himself as elite and having a lavish lifestyle He one arrived at a meeting on an expensively decorated chariot, accompanied by 50 armed soldiers and many servants Samuel Adams once said, “Does it become us to lead the People to such public diversions as promote Superfluity of Dress & ornament, when it is as much as they can bear to support the Expense of a naked Army."

Hancock’s Gravestone John Hancock is buried in Old Granary Cemetery on Tremont Street in downtown Boston. The cemetery is also the burial site of Samuel Adams and Paul Revere. The gravestone reads: “This memorial erected A.D. MDCCCXCV by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to mark the grave of John Hancock.”

Sources htmlhttp://shine.yahoo.com/work-money/the-story-of-john-hancocks-signature html