When someone asks for your John Hancock, it means they want your signature. John Hancock was the first man to sign the United States' Declaration of Independence in 1776. Of the two phrases, John Hancock is the most used term, today.
Etymology. Named after American merchant and statesman John Hancock (1737–1793), the first person to sign the United States Declaration of Independence. According to legend, he signed his name prominently to be sure George III could read it, causing his name to become an eponym for a signature.
As president of the Continental Congress, Hancock is credited as the first signer of the Declaration of Independence. His prominent, stylish signature became famous. (According to legend, Hancock boldly inscribed his name so the English king would not need glasses to read it.)
But why did John Hancock sign his name proportionally larger than the rest of the delegates? The popular legend states that he signed his name bigger than everyone else's so that the “fat old King could read it without his spectacles”.
If Hancock had wanted all 56 signatories to sign at maximum size and still have everyone fit, his signature and theirs should have been closer to 3.1 square inches in size. This is about half the size of Hancock's original, though it's larger than most of the signatures on the document.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal. . . ." "it is the great parent of science & of virtue: and that a nation will be great in both, always in proportion as it is free." "our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost."
“Those who stand for nothing fall for everything.” “Give all the power to the many, they will oppress the few. Give all the power to the few, they will oppress the many.” “The constitution shall never be construedto prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.”
Give me liberty, or give me death
“It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.” “It is better to be alone than in bad company.” “If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.” “My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw.
“Don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here.” “What a glorious morning for America!” “Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!” “Issue the orders, sir, and I will storm hell!”
10 fascinating facts about John Hancock
- Hancock was a wealthy guy.
- He was a bright student.
- Hancock should have been a Loyalist, but he wasn't.
- John Hancock, smuggler?
- Hancock also had a role in the Boston Tea Party incident.
- The British really didn't like Hancock.
- Hancock was a behind-the-scenes force early in the American Revolution.
Signing the DeclarationHancock was president of Congress when the Declaration of Independence was adopted and signed. He is primarily remembered by Americans for his large, flamboyant signature on the Declaration, so much so that "John Hancock" became, in the United States, an informal synonym for signature.
John Hancock, (born January 12, 1737, Braintree (now in Quincy), Massachusetts—died October 8, 1793, Quincy, Massachusetts, U.S.), American statesman who was a leading figure during the Revolutionary War and the first signer of the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
John Hancock is a ghoul who resides in the settlement of Goodneighbor, serving as its de facto mayor. He became a ghoul sometime after 2282, following the use of an experimental radioactive drug.
A visually stunning example of one of America's most beloved documents. Of course, the John Hancock autograph stands out. Sold for $21,963.
Alexander Hamilton did not sign the Declaration of Independence, he was considered a Founding Father due to his role in framing the Constitution. In 1787, he entered public life again constructed a draft for the Constitution and served another term in the Continental Congress.
What were John Hancock's jobs?
Entrepreneur
Merchant
Statesperson
George Washington did not sign the Declaration of Independence. While the Continental Congress assembled in Philadelphia, Washington and his forces were in New York. Two days later on July 4, a declaration explaining the reasons for independence, largely written by Thomas Jefferson, was adopted.
Located on the upper level of the National Archives museum, the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom is the permanent home of the original Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States, and Bill of Rights.
As the C&O Railway stretched westward along the Greenbrier River, The Legend of John Henry was born at Big Bend Mountain near Talcott, West Virginia. The Legend of John Henry is just that, a “legend,” and through the legend, John Henry became a symbol.
John Henry is a symbol of physical strength and endurance, of exploited labor, of the dignity of a human being against the degradations of the machine age, and of racial pride and solidarity.
He used a 20-pound hammer against a steam
drill. Whoever won would get 100 dollars and new clothes. In the end John Henry won the competition, but he also broke inside. He puts his hammer on top of his chest and dies in honor.
John Henry, an American Legend.
| Author | Ezra Jack Keats |
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| Genre | Children's picture book |
| Publication date | 1965 |
| ISBN | 0-81-2459466 |
