Founding Father: 1st & 3rd Governor of Massachusetts, 2-Time President of Continental Congress
#IAmARealAmerican for JRKD Enterprises
John Hancock (1737-1793)
Born in Braintree, MA (now Quincy).
Son of Col. John Hancock Jr (1702-1744), Rev.of the First United Parish Church, Harvard Grad
Grandson of Col. John Hancock Sr (1671-1752), Reverend for 55 years, Harvard Grad, Lexington, MA
Nephew of Thomas Hancock (1703-1774), Smuggler, Traded with the Dutch, Boston's Wealthiest
Childhood friend of John Adams (1735-1826), Future President,Vice President & Foreign Minister
1744- Father John Jr dies, sent to live with wealthy uncle Thomas at Hancock Manor on Beacon Hill
Graduated from Boston Latin School (1750) & Harvard University (1754), 3rd Generation
1760-During French & Indian War, relocates to Britain as his uncle's merchant.
1762-Returns to Boston to look after aging uncle, joins St. Andrew Masonic Lodge.
1764-Thomas dies, John becomes wealthiest man in MA, thousands of acres, Hancock Manor
1764-Sugar Act-Samuel Adams rebels against British taxes #NoTaxationWithoutRepresentation
1765-Hancock named one of Boston's 5 Selectmen, the Town Board
1765-Stamp Act-Hancock encourages PEACEFUL resistance to new Briths taxes
1766-Elected to Massachusetts House of Representatives
1768-Hancock refuses to let British Customs board his merchant ship, the Lydia, at Boston Harbor.
1768-Hancock's ship, the Liberty, unloads 3/4 of its haul offshore to avoid paying Customs taxes.
London sends in troops, and Bostonians rebel and drive them back to Fort William, Castle Island.
British troops remained in Boston, Americans resisted, 5 were killed at the Boston Massacre. 1770
1773- Treasurer of Harvard University
12/16/73-Tea Act, Hancock declares anyone who supports the Tea Act, an "Enemy to America"!
Leads the Tea Party, without participating. "Let every man do what is right in his own eyes."
03/05/74-4th Anniversary Boston Massacre, Hancock declares British troops in Boston "to enforce obedience to acts of Parliament, which neither God nor man ever empowered them to make"
10/74-Provincial President of Massachusetts, Hancock sets up the first minutemen militias
12/1/74-Elected as Massachusetts Delegate to the Second Continental Congress, Philadelphia
02/75-Re-elected as Provincial President of MA, unites with Samuel Adams, Lexington & Concord
04/14/75-King George III orders Col. Gage to arrest leaders of the conspiracy, Adams & Hancock
Joseph Warren sends Paul Revere on a "Midnight Ride" to warn them "The British Are Coming!"
05/24/75-Hancock elected President of the 2nd Continental Congress in Philadelphia
06/15/75-Washington appointed Commander-In-Chief, Hancock was a contender
8/28/75-Fairfield, CT-Married Dolly Quincy, Daughter of a Justice from Braintree, MA
7/4/76-President Hancock signs the Declaration of Independence after Congress approves
Hancock's signature is first and biggest because he was the only person to sign the Declaration at first. It took til August 2nd for all of Congress to sign and approve and another six months for the final Declaration to be copied and printed. For those six months Hancock was the only man publicly linked to the treasonous document declaring Independence from Great Britain.
10/77-Hancock returns to Boston during the heart of the war with only 15 soldiers. He is re-elected to Massachusetts House of Representatives. His business and finances had suffered, but he remained very popular with the people, while at odds with Boston's Samuel Adams.
1776-British drive Colonial Army from NY & NJ, Congress flees Philadelphia to Baltimore
March 1777-Congress returns to Philadelphia, but British occupy Philadelphia again til 1778
06/78-Hancock returns to Continental Congress as Massachusetts Delegate, but not President.
7/9/78-Hancock & the other delegates from 8 states sign the Articles of Confederation.
8/29/78-Hancock leads 6,000 soldiers at Battle of Rhode Island in Newport.
10/80-Constitution of Commonwealth of Massachusetts passes, Hancock first governor of MA, 90%
1780-Founded American Academy of Arts & Sciences.
1781-Hancock's Articles of Confederation finally passes, enter the Confederate Congress
01/29/85-Hancock resigns as 1st Governor MA due to poor health.
11/23/85-Hancock re-elected to Confederate Congress, elected Confederate President
06/86-Hancock resigns as Confederate President due to poor health.
1786/87-'Shays Rebellion' Armed citizen uprising against state taxes, Springfield & Worcester
1787-Hancock re-elected as Mass. 3rd Governor, pardons the "Shays Rebels
1787-Son John George Washington Hancock dies at 9 years old, drowned while ice skating
01/88-Hancock unites with Samuel Adams to convince MA to pass the US Constitution, 187-168
1789-Hancock ran against Washington & John Adams for 1st Federal President, 4 Electoral Votes
10/08/1793-Hancock dies at home on Hancock Manor in Beacon Hill, Boston, age 56. He was buried in an unmarked grave in Granary Cemetery opposite Boston Common from his home.
7/4/1795- Massachusetts Masons Paul Revere & Samuel Adams begin Construction on the New State House of Massachusetts, on the former Hancock Manor property. Hancock had governed Massachusetts from his Mansion on Beacon Hill in Boston prior to, during, and after the Revolution. MA honored the tradition and Hancock Manor has been the seat of government since 1798.
1809-Former President John Adams laments "Samuel Adams & Hancock were almost buried in oblivion", no effort was made to preserve Hancock's history, or even mark his grave, and the State House of Massachusetts was built on his property within 5 years of his death. The State wanted to preserve the Hancock Mansion next door, and use it as Revolutionary Museum, and later as an Executive Suite for the Governor's Mansion. However, by 1863 the Mansion had fallen into disrepair and the state needed funds for the coming Civil War. The land was auctioned off to the public, and the Hancock Museum was destroyed within 10 days.
1876-On the first Centennial, Hancock receives his first historical plaques in Boston.
1896-Hancock's grave is finally marked at Granary Cemetery, 113 years after his death.
1968-Chicago's "John Hancock Center" 100-stories, 1128 Feet Tall, 9th Tallest Building in US
1976-Boston's "John Hancock Tower" 62-Stories, 790 Feet Tall, Tallest Building in New England
Several US Navy ships have been called the USS Hancock or USS John Hancock, even back when he was alive during the Revolution.
Comments