[[Image:{{Founding Fathers|image=John Hancock.jpg|250px|thumb|State:=Massachusetts John Hancock|Religion:=[[Christian]]- [[imageCongregationalist]] <ref>http:hancock_sig//www.jpgadherents.com/gov/Founding_Fathers_Religion.html</ref>|right|thumb|left|250px|Hancock's signature on the Founding Documents:=[[Declaration of Independence]]]]}}'''John Hancock''' was born in Quincy, [[Massachusetts]], on January 12, 1737. After receiving his childhood education, Hancock was admitted to [[Harvard]], where he graduated in 1754. He is most famous for his signature on and became a wealthy businessman in the [[Declaration of Independence]]. He was the first member of the [[Continental Congress]] to give his signature. He died October 8, 1793 in Quincy, Massachusettsshipping arena.
He is most famous for his extremely large signature on the [[Declaration of Independence]]. He was the first member of the [[Continental Congress]] to give his signature and his name is sometimes synonymous with the word signature today. Some reports state his reason for doing so is that he wanted the King to see his signature without glasses on,<ref>http://www.johnhancock.org/</ref> however the factuality of this is debated.<ref>http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/hancock.htm</ref> Later in life, he was the governor of Massachusetts. He died October 8, 1793 in Quincy, Massachusetts.[[image:hancock_sig.jpg|right|thumb|left|250px|Hancock's signature on the [[Declaration of Independence]] ]] ==See also==* [[Brattle Street Church]] ==References=={{expandReflist}} {{Declaration of Independence}}{{DEFAULTSORT: Hancock, John}} [[categoryCategory:BiographiesSigners of the Declaration of Independence]][[Category:Founding Fathers]][[categoryCategory:United States HistoryMassachusetts Governors]]