- March 6, 1809, 217 years ago — Death of Thomas Heyward Jr..
- March 6, 1724, 302 years ago — Birth of Henry Laurens, President of the Continental Congress.
- March 7, 1707, 319 years ago — Birth of Stephen Hopkins, signer of the Declaration of Independence.
- March 7, 1699, 327 years ago — Birth of Susanna Boylston Adams, mother of John Adams.
John Hancock
HANCOCK, John, statesman, born in Quincy, Mass., 23 January, 1737; died there, 8 October, 1793.
He graduated from Harvard in 1754 and became a wealthy merchant in Boston. His opposition to British taxation made him a prominent figure in the patriot movement. He was president of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress and later of the Continental Congress.
Hancock was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence, with a bold signature that became iconic. He served as governor of Massachusetts for many years and was known for his generosity and leadership.
Though criticized at times for ambition, Hancock’s contributions to American independence and state governance were substantial. His name remains synonymous with patriotic defiance and personal courage.
Source:
Wilson, James Grant, and John Fiske, eds. Appleton’s Cyclopædia of American Biography. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1887. Patriot Echoes Archive
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