“Some boast of being friends to government; I am a friend to righteous government, to a government founded upon the principles of reason and justice; but I glory in publicly avowing my eternal enmity to tyranny.”
These powerful words, spoken by John Hancock at the 1774 Boston Massacre commemoration, encapsulate the spirit of a man deeply intertwined with the American Revolution. While his name is instantly recognizable due to his flamboyant signature on the Declaration of Independence, the story of John Hancock, the person, reveals a complex figure whose wealth, political acumen, and unwavering commitment to liberty placed him at the heart of the burgeoning nation.
Hancock’s selection as the orator for the Boston Massacre commemoration at Faneuil Hall was somewhat unexpected. Despite his immense popularity and status as one of Boston’s wealthiest citizens, he wasn’t known for his exceptional public speaking or writing abilities. Yet, his popularity was precisely the point. The people of Boston admired John Hancock and were eager to hear from a man who embodied their growing resistance to British rule. Hancock skillfully leveraged his substantial wealth to become a pivotal figure in the burgeoning Revolutionary movement, solidifying his position as one of Massachusetts’ most beloved and influential personalities.
However, Hancock’s ascent to such prominence was undeniably paved with privilege. In 1764, he inherited his vast fortune from his uncle, Thomas Hancock. Having lost his father at the young age of seven, John was raised by his uncle Thomas, who became his guardian and mentor. Upon his uncle’s death, John not only inherited a thriving business empire but also stepped into a position of considerable social and political influence. This inheritance propelled the young Hancock into Boston’s political scene, where he soon secured a position as one of the town’s selectmen.
As a prominent merchant and emerging politician, Hancock became acutely aware of the implications of Britain’s newly imposed taxes on the colonies. He actively engaged in the widespread boycotts organized in response to the Stamp Act and the Townshend Acts, demonstrating his early commitment to colonial resistance. His business affairs became dramatically entangled in political tensions in 1768 when British customs officials seized his sloop, the Liberty. Accused of smuggling, Hancock faced a highly publicized trial. However, the charges were inexplicably dropped, likely due to insufficient evidence. Despite the lack of legal repercussions, the Liberty affair served to amplify Hancock’s public profile and solidify his standing among revolutionaries as a victim of unjust British overreach.
In 1773, when a crucial Town Meeting convened at Faneuil Hall to address the contentious Tea Act, John Hancock presided as moderator. The prevailing sentiment declared that anyone who purchased tea would be deemed “An Enemy of America,” setting the stage for the iconic Boston Tea Party. In response to the colonists’ defiant act of dumping tea into Boston Harbor, Governor Thomas Gage retaliated by dissolving the Provincial Assembly. Undeterred, the assembly members reconvened in Concord, forming the Provincial Congress to function as the de facto government of Massachusetts, effectively sidelining Gage’s authority. John Hancock was immediately elected as the president of this revolutionary body.
Assuming this crucial leadership role within an increasingly autonomous Massachusetts government, Hancock relocated to Lexington alongside his close political ally, Samuel Adams. In April 1775, British forces marched towards Concord, aiming to seize colonial arms and suppress the growing rebellion. Fearing imminent arrest, Hancock and Adams were forced to flee. Hancock’s escape ultimately led him to Philadelphia, where he joined the esteemed Continental Congress.
Hancock’s reputation preceded him on his arrival in Philadelphia. In a testament to his widespread respect and perceived leadership qualities, the Continental Congress swiftly and unanimously elected him as its President in 1775. He held this prestigious position during the pivotal period leading up to and including the adoption of the Declaration of Independence a year later. As President, Hancock held the honor of being the first to sign the Declaration, ratifying its momentous pronouncements. Early public distributions of the document often bore only his prominent signature. Consequently, Hancock’s name and the Declaration became indelibly linked in the public consciousness. His signature became his most enduring symbol, overshadowing his extensive and multifaceted career in business and politics.
Alt text: John Hancock’s large and distinctive signature on the Declaration of Independence, a symbol of American freedom.
Hancock’s tenure as President of the Continental Congress lasted for two and a half years. In 1777, he returned to Massachusetts, although he briefly rejoined the Continental Congress in 1778. His political career continued to flourish as he successfully ran for Governor of Massachusetts in 1780. He served in this role until 1785 when he initially announced his retirement from public life. However, his retirement proved short-lived. Within a year, he reclaimed the governorship in 1786 and continued to serve as the Governor of Massachusetts until his death in 1793. John Hancock’s life was a testament to his unwavering commitment to the American cause and his significant contributions to the birth of a new nation.
Footnotes:
- John Hancock, An Oration Delivered March Fifth, 1774 (Boston: Edes and Gill, 1774) 6. Accessed July 2021, https://www.masshist.org/dorr/volume/4/sequence/1282.
- “‘My Sincere Attachment to the Interest of My Country,’” Accessed June 25, 2021, http://boston1775.blogspot.com/2021/03/my-sincere-attachment-to-interest-of-my.html.
- F.W.B. “AN HISTORICAL SKETCH,” The Aldine Press 2, no. 5 (May 1869), https://www.jstor.org/stable/43243102.
- Donald Proctor, “John Hancock: New Soundings on an Old Barrel,” The Journal of American History 64, no. 3 (December 1977): 652–77.
- William Fowler, The Baron of Beacon Hill: A Biography of John Hancock (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1980) 156, Accessed July 2021, https://archive.org/details/baronofbeaconhil0000fowl/mode/2up.
- Fowler, 177; 181-187.
- Proctor, 653.
- F.W.B. “AN HISTORICAL SKETCH.”
- F.W.B. “AN HISTORICAL SKETCH.”
