John Hancock

On May 25, 1775 the United Colonies Continental Congress elected John Hancock, President. On July 2, 1776 United Colonies Continental Congress declared independence from Great Britain. On July 4th, 1776 United States Continental Congress passed the Declaration of Independence with John Hancock executing the resolution as President. On November 23,... 1785 the United States in Congress Assembled (USCA) elected John Hancock President under the Constitution of 1777, the Articles of Confederation. The public mind seems not to be yet settled on the Vice President. The question has been supposed to lie between Hancock & Adams. The former is far the more popular man in N. England, but he has declared to his lady, it is said, that she had once been the first in America, & he wd. never make her the second. -- James Madison, October 28, 1788 On May 25, 1775 the United Colonies Continental Congress elected John Hancock, President. On July 2, 1776 United Colonies Continental Congress declared independence from Great Britain. On July 4th, 1776 United States Continental Congress passed the Declaration of Independence with John Hancock executing the resolution as President. On November 23, 1785 the United States in Congress Assembled (USCA) elected John Hancock President. John Hancock was born in Quincy, Massachusetts, on January 12, 1737 and died there October 8, 1793. Hancocks father, the Reverend John Hancock, was an ordained minister who was a graduate of Harvard College. Hancocks grandfather, also named the Reverend John Hancock, was so revered that he was often called Bishop or Sir Hancock and was described as a "man of stern Puritanic stuff, but a lover of a good story and a cheerful word nevertheless. This religious influence did not escape John Hancocks character who was encouraged to adhere to the strict Christian principles that permeated 18th Century Massachusetts. Hancocks father died when he was seven and his Uncle Thomas, a wealthy merchant as evidence by the following family account, raised young John as a son. ...Read More