John Hancock, was born at Quincy, near Boston, and was the son and
grandson of an eminent clergyman, but, having early lost his father,
was indebted for his liberal education to his uncle, a merchant of
great wealth and respectability, who sent him to Harvard university,
where he was graduated in 1754. He was then placed in the
counting-house of his benefactor, and not long afterwards visited
England, where he was present at the coronation of George III, as
little prescient as the monarch himself of the part which he was
destined to act in relation to the English government. On the sudden
demise of his uncle, in 1764, he succeeded to his large fortune and
extensive business; both of which he managed with great judgment and
munificence. As a member of the provincial legislature, he exerted
himself with zeal and resolution against the royal governor and the
British ministry, and became so obnoxious to them, in consequence,
that in the proclamation issued by general Gage, after the battle of
Lexington, and a few days before that of Bunker hill, offering pardon
to the _rebels_, he and Samuel Adams were especially excepted, their
offenses being ‘of too flagitious a nature to admit of any other
consideration than that of condign punishment.’ This circumstance gave
additional celebrity to these two patriots, between whom, however, an
unfortunate dissention took place which produced a temporary schism in
the party which they headed, and a long personal estrangement between
themselves. In fact, they differed so widely in their modes of living
and general dispositions, that their concurrence in political measures
may be considered one of the strongest proofs of their patriotism.
Hancock was a magnificent liver, lavishly bountiful, and splendidly
hospitable; Samuel Adams had neither the means nor the inclination for
pursuing a similar course. He was studiously simple and frugal, and
was of an austere, unbending character.
Hancock was president of the provincial congress of Massachusetts,
until he was sent as a delegate from the province to the general
congress at Philadelphia, in 1775. Soon after his arrival there, he
was chosen to succeed Peyton Randolph as president of that assembly,
and was the first to affix his signature to the declaration of
independence. He continued to fill the chair until the year 1779, when
he was compelled by disease to retire from congress. He was then
elected governor of Massachusetts, and was annually chosen from 1780
to 1785. After an interval of two years, during which Mr. Bowdoin
occupied the post, he was reëlected, and continued in the office until
his death, Oct. 8, 1793, at the age of 56 years. In the interval, he
acted as president of the convention of the state for the adoption of
the federal constitution, for which he finally voted. (An able sketch
of his character is contained in Tudor’s Life of Otis.) The talents of
Hancock were rather useful than brilliant. He seldom spoke, but his
knowledge of business, and facility in despatching it, together with
his keen insight into the characters of men, rendered him peculiarly
fit for public life. As the president of a deliberative assembly, he
excelled. His voice was sonorous, his apprehension of questions quick;
he was well acquainted with parliamentary forms, and inspired respect
and confidence by his attention, impartiality and dignity. In his
private life, he was eminent for his hospitality and beneficence. He
was a complete gentleman of the old school, both in his appearance and
manners; dressing richly, according to the fashion of the day, keeping
a handsome equipage, and being distinguished for politeness and
affability in social intercourse. When Washington consulted the
legislature of Massachusetts upon the propriety of bombarding Boston,
Hancock advised its being done immediately, if it would benefit the
cause, although nearly his whole property consisted in houses and real
estate in that town.