On this day in history, first state governor, John Hancock, was born in Braintree, Massachusetts. He was born to a clergyman, and if his father had not died when young Hancock was only three, we can only assume he would have followed along the same path as his father, as many young men of the time did. As matters stood, John Hancock’s mother was left as a widow with three children to take care of on her own with a small inheritance to live on.
Meanwhile, in Boston, Thomas Hancock, brother to young John Hancock’s father, Reverend John Hancock, was also facing a similarly uncertain future as the wealthiest man in New England with no surviving heirs of his own. He decided to help his brother’s widow by adopting one of her three children as his own. He chose young John Hancock. John Hancock was then sent to live with his Uncle and aunt in a lavish mansion on Beacon Hill in Boston at 7 years old. From that point forward, Thomas Hancock taught his nephew how to be a merchant and how to participate in politics. As John became older, he would enter into a partnership with his uncle in the merchant business. By the time Thomas Hancock died in 1764, John Hancock was well prepared to continue his uncle’s business as a merchant, and a year later, entered into politics himself.
With Thomas Hancock’s death, John Hancock not only inherited his uncle’s business, but he also inherited his uncle’s mansion on Beacon Hill and a large sum of money which contributed to John Hancock becoming the wealthiest man in New England. Due to Thomas Hancock’s upbringing of the young John Hancock, and the business and large inheritance he left behind, John Hancock was now provided with the means to become the ardent Patriot and political leader that we all recognize him as today. Happy 277th birthday John Hancock!
Did you know January 23 is now celebrated as National Handwriting Day in honor of John Hancock’s bold signature on the Declaration of Independence?
Hancock Manor from across Boston Common
