By Tim Fullerton
The richest man in America:
John Hancock
Hancock was orphaned as a child, and was raised by his aunt and uncle. As his uncle's health failed, John eventually took over the House of Hancock (an import/export company) in January 1763.
Through the 1767 Townshend Acts, Parliament hoped to reduce smuggling and generate revenue for the government. (Making it unlawful to import from anywhere except the British Empire.) Hancock was repeatedly harassed or charged with smuggling. In 1768 one of his ships was boarded, but without a legal search warrant, Hancock ordered the Customs Agents to leave. In another case a year or so later, he was accused of smuggling wine. With childhood acquaintance, John Adams, as his lawyer, the charges were dropped without explanation.
Historians disagree whether Hancock was, indeed, a smuggler. The little devil on my shoulder thinks he was. Not so much to gain riches, simply to stick his finger in King George's eye.
Some say Hancock thought up and participated in the famous Boston Tea Party.
John Hancock's philanthropy made him a popular fellow in Massachusetts. Although his finances had suffered greatly during the war, he gave to the poor, helped support widows and orphans, and loaned money to friends.
Still, he was considered by many as the wealthiest man in the Colonies. He had much to lose by pledging, “our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor,” when he signed the Declaration of Independence.
John Hancock was the president of congress on July 4, 1776. His was the first signature on that document. (and for over a month the only signature; as the other delegates had to wait for the nod from their home state before signing.)
In October 1777, after more than two years in Congress, President Hancock requested a leave of absence for health reasons. He asked George Washington to arrange a military escort for his return to Boston. Although Washington was short on manpower, he nevertheless sent fifteen horsemen to accompany Hancock on his journey home.
The new Massachusetts Constitution went into effect in October 1780. Hancock was elected Governor of Massachusetts, winning over 90% of the vote. He governed Massachusetts through the end of the Revolutionary War and into an economically troubled postwar period.
Hancock was put forth as a candidate in the 1789 U. S. presidential election, despite his poor health. Hancock received only four electoral votes in the election, however, none of them from his home state; the Massachusetts electors all voted for another native son, John Adams, who became vice president.
The richest man in America:
John Hancock
Hancock was orphaned as a child, and was raised by his aunt and uncle. As his uncle's health failed, John eventually took over the House of Hancock (an import/export company) in January 1763.
Through the 1767 Townshend Acts, Parliament hoped to reduce smuggling and generate revenue for the government. (Making it unlawful to import from anywhere except the British Empire.) Hancock was repeatedly harassed or charged with smuggling. In 1768 one of his ships was boarded, but without a legal search warrant, Hancock ordered the Customs Agents to leave. In another case a year or so later, he was accused of smuggling wine. With childhood acquaintance, John Adams, as his lawyer, the charges were dropped without explanation.
Historians disagree whether Hancock was, indeed, a smuggler. The little devil on my shoulder thinks he was. Not so much to gain riches, simply to stick his finger in King George's eye.
Some say Hancock thought up and participated in the famous Boston Tea Party.
John Hancock's philanthropy made him a popular fellow in Massachusetts. Although his finances had suffered greatly during the war, he gave to the poor, helped support widows and orphans, and loaned money to friends.
Still, he was considered by many as the wealthiest man in the Colonies. He had much to lose by pledging, “our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor,” when he signed the Declaration of Independence.
John Hancock was the president of congress on July 4, 1776. His was the first signature on that document. (and for over a month the only signature; as the other delegates had to wait for the nod from their home state before signing.)
In October 1777, after more than two years in Congress, President Hancock requested a leave of absence for health reasons. He asked George Washington to arrange a military escort for his return to Boston. Although Washington was short on manpower, he nevertheless sent fifteen horsemen to accompany Hancock on his journey home.
The new Massachusetts Constitution went into effect in October 1780. Hancock was elected Governor of Massachusetts, winning over 90% of the vote. He governed Massachusetts through the end of the Revolutionary War and into an economically troubled postwar period.
Hancock was put forth as a candidate in the 1789 U. S. presidential election, despite his poor health. Hancock received only four electoral votes in the election, however, none of them from his home state; the Massachusetts electors all voted for another native son, John Adams, who became vice president.