The American Revolution Project

Letter
Dear Sister,
I take this one spare moment I have to tell you, I have been wounded and will not be returning home. I’m currently at Valley Forge. It’s dreadfully cold, and we have no food or clothing for most men. I’m missing you and the family terribly bad at this point.

With all Love, Ben Zucchini

John Hancock
John Hancock was born on January 23rd, 1737, in Braintree, Massachusetts. After his father died, he was raised by his wealthy aunt and uncle. John Hancock went on to graduate Harvard in 1754. After he had graduated he went to go work for his Uncle. After his uncle, Thomas Hancock, died, John Hancock inherited his import-export business and became one of the richest men in all of New England. Hancock would later on be very generous with his wealth. He used it for public projects; however, he received criticism from many people including Samuel Adams, for living a plentiful life. In 1775 John Hancock married Dorothy Quincy, daughter of a merchant. They had two children, a boy and a girl. Neither of which survived to adulthood. In 1776 John Hancock entered local politics when he was elected Boston selectman. The next year, he won election to Massachusetts legislature. Around this time, British began imposing tax laws, and trying to gain more control over the thirteen colonies. The colonists opposed these laws, and started to become anti-British, this lead to the American Revolution. Hancock came into direct conflict with the British, when one of his ships, the Liberty, was taken by British in the Boston Harbor. They claimed he had illegally unloaded goods, without paying the proper taxes. Hancock was popular in Boston, and the claiming of his ship, lead to many angry colonists. Hancock had been becoming more, and more involved with American independence at this time. In 1774, John Hancock was elected president of the Massachusetts Provincial congress. In December of the same year, he was chosen as a Massachusetts delegate to the second continental congress. Hancock’s revolutionary actions made him an automatic target to the British. In 1775, he and his fellow patriot Samuel Adams, avoided arrest in Lexington, during Paul Revere’s midnight ride. In May 1775, he was elected president of the Continental Congress. The next month, the congress chose George Washington as commander of the continental army. According to some, Hancock had wanted the position himself. During the eight years of war, Hancock used his wealth to fund the Continental Army.

On July 4th, 1776 the Declaration of Independence was approved. John Hancock was credited as the first to sign the document. His signature became famous. “There, I guess the king will be able to read that!” He said this, after he signed it so the king would be able to read it without his glasses. Today, “John Hancock” is synonymous with “signature.” After resigning as head of the Continental Congress in 1777, Hancock had is chance for the military in 1778, when he led some 5,000 Massachusetts soldiers in attempt to recapture Newport, Rhode Island from the British. Although the mission was a failure, John Hancock still remained popular. He went on to help with the Massachusetts Constitution in 1780, and was elected governor of Massachusetts by a wide margin the same year. During his term as governor, Massachusetts was hit by a large inflation, and a number of farmers were not able to repay their loans, and ended up in prison. In the middle of this, Hancock who was suffering from gout, resigned from being governor in 1785. The following year, an uprising of farmer’s later known as “Shay’s Rebellion” broke out. The rebellion ended in early 1787. Hancock was elected governor that same year. He did not attend the 1787 continental congress in Philadelphia.
In 1789 Hancock was a candidate in the first US Presidential election, but received only 4 of the 138 votes. George Washington won the election, with John Adams as vice president. Hancock remained governor of Massachusetts until his death October 8th, 1993, at the age of 56, followed by an extravagant funeral. He was buried at Boston’s Granary Burying Ground. That was the end of his very accomplished life ): HOODLUMS