- 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
John Hancock was born in Quincy, Massachusetts, January 23, 1737. He graduated from Harvard College in 1754 and entered the mercantile house of his uncle, Thomas Hancock, whose fortune he inherited. His wealth and influence made him a prominent figure in colonial resistance.
He was elected to the Massachusetts Assembly and became President of the Provincial Congress. In 1775 he was chosen President of the Continental Congress, a position he held during the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
Hancock was the first to sign the Declaration, affixing his bold signature with deliberate emphasis. He continued to serve the cause of liberty throughout the war and was later elected Governor of Massachusetts, serving for many years.
He died October 8, 1793, in the fifty-seventh year of his age.
Source:
Lossing, Benson J. The Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence. New York: A.S. Barnes & Co., 1855. Patriot Echoes Archive
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