Tidbit Reborn

Last week I watched the HBO Series "John Adams." It's a wonderful film. It's very inspiring to watch. I hope to be able to read the book soon. This film has spurred me to learn more about the 56 men who were part of the continental congress that signed the Declaration of Independence.

Wikipedia has a page that lists all the men who signed. I don't know anything about most of them, except which state they came from as listed on the Wikipedia page. I think I need to learn more about them. What do you say? I am going to group them by state or focus on individuals who played a role in other ways.

Today's Man: President of the Congress, from Massachussetts

John Hancock. I think most people know that "John Hancock" is synonymous with "Signature." But besides his signature on the Declaration, Who was he? Why was he there? He was a very wealthy man, maybe one of the wealthiest in the colonies, who made his fortune in shipping and transporting and by inheriting the shipping company from his uncle. He was a Harvard Graduate in Latin. A rather educated man. He began in politics after starting a friendship with Samuel Adams. (More on him later.) It is thought that Adams recruited Hancock for his wealth and general likability. He was elected the Third President of the Continental Congress. He was elected because of his ambiguous stand in regard to party lines and preference for Loyalty or Independence. While serving as President it is said that he hired clerks at his own personal cost to help take notes and record the proceedings of the congressional meetings.

He was married and had two children. Niether of his children lived to adulthood, so there are no direct descendants of John Hancock. Bummer. He was probably the only man to sign the Declaration of Independence on July 4. The first copy was presented, accepted, signed by Hancock and then sent to the printer and circulated. His name was printed on the circulated copies. Thus, his name was the first, and only for a while, name connected with the treasonous act of declaring independence. After serving in the Continental Congress he served as Governor of Massachussetts for the rest of his career. He died in 1793 at age 56.

From the bottom of my heart, Thank you Mr. Hancock for being part of that amazing time!!

Tune in tomorrow for our next Founding Fathers! The men of New Hampshire!