JOHN HANCOCK.

as the sun in his course."1

JOHN HANCOCK, the prosperous, bus- | town. Wholly devoted to business, he tling Boston merchant, and busy patriot was as regular and punctual at his store of the Revolution, had good Puritan blood in his veins. His grandfather, the Rev. John Hancock, a man of unusual ability and vigor, the octogenarian preacher of Lexington, was eminent for his usefulness. His son, also named John, the parent of John Hancock, the subject of this sketch, died in middle age, minister of Braintree.

Upon the sudden death of his uncle by apoplexy, in 1764, Hancock inherited the business, and a large share of the property. The position of a successful, enterprising merchant, in those days, was one of considerable importance, even alongside of the lawyers and members of the government, who consti John Hancock was born at the Brain- tuted the elite of provincial society. tree parsonage, January 23, 1737. The Hancock, too, had the prestige of wealth death of his father, when he was but and the family piety-for there were seven years of age, broke up the family no persons of more consequence in old household, and the child was taken to New England than the clergy. He Lexington to his grandfather, then at started upon life, then, in his twentythe venerable age of seventy-three. He seventh year, when he came into pos had also a most serviceable friend in session of his uncle's fortune, with emihis uncle, Thomas Hancock, a wealthy nent advantages. He had been put in Boston merchant, and a man of liberal the way of a good education, as we ideas, gratefully held in remembrance at have seen, had profited by ten years of Harvard, for his endowment of an ori- prosperous trade, and had enjoyed ental professorship. This relative pro- some opportunities of foreign travel in vided for his education at the Boston connection with the business. Mr. Grammar School, and at Harvard, Loring, always curious in his researches where he graduated in 1754. He was into the history of old Bostonians, and then received in his uncle's counting. | never more successful than in his inhouse. "And what a school was this! vestigations into the life of Hancock, Four large ships constantly plying tells us of his visiting London with between Boston and London, and other Pownal, at the expiration of his business in proportion. He became an example to all the young men of the

govern.

' John Adams to William Tudor, Works, X. 259.

ment of the Colony in 1760, and of his best method of expelling the British witnessing the funeral of George II., troops from the city: "Burn Boston, and the crowning of his successor. and make John Hancock a beggar, if Incidents like these, though of little the public good requires it!" 1 A import in the lives of many persons, minute history of the times would may minister to the consequence of one already bent upon rising in the world. Hancock was looked to to support his uncle's reputation; nor was the expectation disappointed. He was easy and engaging in his manners, liberal in the employment of his wealth, turning his influence to good account; apt and ready to serve the public. He became a Selectman of the town, and, in 1766, was elected, with Cushing and Samuel Adams, to the General Court, where, says Eliot, "he blazed a Whig of the first magnitude." There is a story told of the two Adamses walking, the day of his election to the Legislature, on the Boston Common, opposite the famous Hancock mansion, when the oily" Samuel remarked to his relative, that the town had done a wise thing to-day; "they had made that young man's fortune their own." The prophecy, adds the narrator, John Adams, "was literally fulfilled."

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show his activity throughout these preliminary scenes of the Revolution, in opposition to the impost on tea, and in other acts of popular resistance. In 1772, at a moment of comparative quiet, we find him appointed by Hutchinson captain of the company of cadets, with the rank of colonel. Hancock had the honor of escorting the new governor, Gage, with great pomp, to the council chamber; but his Excellency soon fell out with his patriotic commander, and the corps was disbanded. At the fourth anni versary of the Boston Massacre, in 1774, Hancock appeared, with eminent success, as the orator of the day. He was elected to the first Provincial Congress, at Concord, of 1774, and chosen its President. Ill health-he was now troubled with those maladies which afflicted him through life-prevented his being sent to the Continental Congress of this year at Philadelphia, but in the following season he was joined to the Massachusetts' delegation.

Hancock was now a vigorous leader of the opposition, throwing his vast wealth and influence on the popular side. He was an active member, we The meeting of this body was immeare told, of that famous North End diately preceded by the battle of Club, or assembly of mechanics, ship- Lexington. It was supposed in Boswrights and calkers-which is said to ton, by the friends of liberty, that the have given the political term "caucus" movement of troops had reference to the language of which Samuel specially to the capture of Hancock Adams was a prominent member. It and Samuel Adams. They came,

was at this club of fast-developing indeed, very nigh being taken in that democratic politicians that Hancock

exclaimed, in the discussion of the

1 Loring's Hundred Boston Orators, p. 77.

dent.

The choice of a commander-in-chief soon came on, when Hancock is said to have exhibited some reluctance to the appointment of Washington, so handsomely supported by his colleagues, the Adamses. Indeed, John Adams hints that Hancock had himself an inclination for the post. He had acquired some note as a militia officer, and his personal sacrifices, as the richest man in Boston, had been, as Adams remarks, incomparably greater than those of Colonel

affair. At the time of the expedition, Randolph, he was chosen its Presi they were lodged in the house of the Rev. Jonas Clark, the minister of Lexington, where, being already thought in danger, they had been protected by a guard. Word was brought to them at midnight, by Paul Revere, a messenger sent by Dr. Warren, that the British troops were on their way. The militia were immediately assembled, and means taken for defence on the spot. The hazard of remaining to be captured was, however, thought too great to the cause of freedom, to be encountered by its leaders, Hancock Washington. Adams tells us that and Adams. By the advice of friends, when the question was solved by they were persuaded to retire a few his nomination, the countenance of miles distant, to the inner precinct of Hancock experienced "a sudden and Woburn, where they found refuge in striking change," and that his "phythe house of the widow of a clergy-siognomy was not softened" when the man. They were accompanied in their motion was seconded by Samuel Adams. flight by a young lady of Boston, Miss Dorothy Quincy, daughter of Edward Quincy, to whom Hancock was then engaged, and whom he married a few months afterwards.

As President of Congress, the broad signature of Hancock is conspicuously displayed on the Declaration of Independence. The service, for which he was well qualified, of course, gave him distinguished honor at home and abroad. The numerous prints of him published in Europe have generally. his title of office attached to them.

Governor Gage presently issues his proclamation, offering pardon to all the rebels, save and except Samuel Adams and John Hancock, the offences of those arch traitors being considered In 1778, Hancock was appointed by "of too flagitious a nature to admit of the General Court of Massachusetts, any other consideration, than that of Major-General of the State militia, and condign punishment." This formid in that capacity commanded the second able denunciation, "a mark of distinc- line in the expedition of General Sultion," as Eliot observes, which "many livan, in the operation of the year for men in these States would have given the recovery of Newport. Though all their wealth, and run any risk of the attempt failed for want of the consequences" to obtain, followed Han- expected coöperation of the French cock as a capital introduction to the fleet, Hancock was not the less eager in old Congress at Carpenter's Hall, his attentions to Admiral D'Estaing where, on the resignation of Peyton and his officers, when they shortly