John Hancock group:Stephanie, jenny, brittany, denisha

Brief overview• 1750-Hancock graduated from the Boston Latin School where the sons of

the Boston elite got their education. The school had prominent Bostonians as its alumni. The BLS is the oldest existing school in the United States.• Hancock’s first year in Harvard College.

• 1754-Graduated from Harvard College with a bachelor’s degree.

• 1754-1757-Worked for his uncle in the House of Hancock as an apprentice.

• 1758-1761-Lived in England where he furthered his studies in commerce and forged relationships with his uncle’s business partners.

Brief overview• 1762- Moved back to Massachusetts where he slowly

took over the family business, The House of Hancock, as Tomas Hancock’s health deteriorated.

• 1763- Became full partner in The House of Hancock.• 1764- Thomas Hancock died and John inherited the

business, properties and thousands of acres of land. At age 27 he was one of the richest men in Massachusetts.

• 1765- The start of Hancock’s political career, he was elected as Boston selectman.• The Stamp Act met resistance in the colonies.

the Stamp Act

• This was a tumultuous year in the colony as the Stamp Act was passed and the crowds took it to the streets to protest.

• During this period Hancock became acquainted with Samuel Adams with whom he forged a friendship.

The townshend acts• In 1767, a year after the repeal of the

Stamp Act, Parliament approved another revenue raising taxation in the colonies, the Townshend Acts.

• The Townshend Acts consisted in new duties on imports and a series of acts to regulate trade in the colonies and reduce smuggling.

1777

• 1st person to sign The DeclarationIndependence.

Why did he sign so big?

timline• 1789-Run for first presidential election with George Washington

and John Adams. Hancock received a disappointing four electoral votes. Washington was elected the first president of the United States and John Adams Vice President.

• 1793-October 8: Died at age 56. He was survived by his wife Dorothy.

• His funeral was organized by his longtime friend Samuel Adams. John Hancock is buried at Boston’s Granary Burying Ground.