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John Hancock: First to Sign, First to Invest in America's Independence
A compelling, intimate portrait of John Hancock, going beyond the flamboyant signature to provide insight into the pivotal role that he had in the American Revolution.
A contemporary of Samuel Adams, John Adams, George Washington, and the Marquis de Lafayette, Hancock’s contacts read like a who’s who of the American Revolution. But shockingly little has been written about the man himself—and current biographies tend to over-rely on critical portrayals by his political opponents. John Hancock the story of a man who deserves far more acknowledgment for his involvement in the American Revolution than previously credited—and award-winning scholar Willard Sterne Randall is determined to give him his due at last.
Born to relatively modest means, Hancock was sent to live with his wealthy uncle and aunt as a child, who raised him as their own and prepared him to take over the family company. An incredibly successful businessman, Hancock began to get involved in politics in the mid-1760s. He quickly rose in the ranks, eventually serving as the president of the Continental Congress and the first governor of Massachusetts.
John Hancock details all of the major moments in the Revolution, from the Boston Tea Party to the battles of Lexington and Concord to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Hancock’s actions fundamentally altered each of these events—and ultimately the course of the United States—in ways never taught in the history books. Randall also dives into less-known parts of Hancock’s life with nuance and compassion, including his education and controversial work with Harvard; his long courtship and complicated marriage to Dorothy Quincy; and his close relationship and eventual bitter rivalry with Samuel Adams.
John Hancock was immensely popular in Massachusetts at the time of the Revolution, but his lack of personal writings have allowed him to be pushed aside in favor of easier biographies to tell. Through extensive research, Randall aims to restore Hancock to his rightful place, celebrated for his achievements as one of our Founding Fathers at last.
A contemporary of Samuel Adams, John Adams, George Washington, and the Marquis de Lafayette, Hancock’s contacts read like a who’s who of the American Revolution. But shockingly little has been written about the man himself—and current biographies tend to over-rely on critical portrayals by his political opponents. John Hancock the story of a man who deserves far more acknowledgment for his involvement in the American Revolution than previously credited—and award-winning scholar Willard Sterne Randall is determined to give him his due at last.
Born to relatively modest means, Hancock was sent to live with his wealthy uncle and aunt as a child, who raised him as their own and prepared him to take over the family company. An incredibly successful businessman, Hancock began to get involved in politics in the mid-1760s. He quickly rose in the ranks, eventually serving as the president of the Continental Congress and the first governor of Massachusetts.
John Hancock details all of the major moments in the Revolution, from the Boston Tea Party to the battles of Lexington and Concord to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Hancock’s actions fundamentally altered each of these events—and ultimately the course of the United States—in ways never taught in the history books. Randall also dives into less-known parts of Hancock’s life with nuance and compassion, including his education and controversial work with Harvard; his long courtship and complicated marriage to Dorothy Quincy; and his close relationship and eventual bitter rivalry with Samuel Adams.
John Hancock was immensely popular in Massachusetts at the time of the Revolution, but his lack of personal writings have allowed him to be pushed aside in favor of easier biographies to tell. Through extensive research, Randall aims to restore Hancock to his rightful place, celebrated for his achievements as one of our Founding Fathers at last.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published June 10, 2025
47 people are currently reading
4582 people want to read
About the author
Willard Sterne Randall
44 books70 followersWillard Sterne Randall is an American historian and author who specializes in biographies related to the American colonial period and the American Revolution. He teaches American history at Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
November 1, 2025
Dr. Randall is a well respected scholar and historian; and he has written, in my opinion, the definitive history of John Hancock.
June 22, 2025
Overall, an enjoyable read. Thanks to Dutton for sending me a gifted copy of this book!!
This is a short biography of one of America’s founding fathers. He’s well-known for his large signature, but not for some of the bigger feats he accomplished and that’s disappointing. While this read incredibly positively of Hancock, I would have liked to get a better understanding of where he stood in the big picture of American politics—tell me the good AND the bad pls! I learned a lot, but still left me wanting a bit more.
Randall’s writing also came off almost unedited at a couple points?? There were some sentences and paragraphs throughout that left me wondering how they got through previous reviews? It felt repetitive sometimes, but not to a point I got frustrated.
I’d recommend this to someone wanting a quick primer to get basic info about John Hancock, but if you’re more of an American Revolution aficionado, I’m not sure you’ll get much out of this. It could also be a good way for someone new to non-fiction to get their feet wet. The writing is simple enough, as well (he does use a few words randomly that even I had to look up to make sure I understood what the author meant to convey, but generally not a difficult book to understand).
This is a short biography of one of America’s founding fathers. He’s well-known for his large signature, but not for some of the bigger feats he accomplished and that’s disappointing. While this read incredibly positively of Hancock, I would have liked to get a better understanding of where he stood in the big picture of American politics—tell me the good AND the bad pls! I learned a lot, but still left me wanting a bit more.
Randall’s writing also came off almost unedited at a couple points?? There were some sentences and paragraphs throughout that left me wondering how they got through previous reviews? It felt repetitive sometimes, but not to a point I got frustrated.
I’d recommend this to someone wanting a quick primer to get basic info about John Hancock, but if you’re more of an American Revolution aficionado, I’m not sure you’ll get much out of this. It could also be a good way for someone new to non-fiction to get their feet wet. The writing is simple enough, as well (he does use a few words randomly that even I had to look up to make sure I understood what the author meant to convey, but generally not a difficult book to understand).
July 27, 2025
I learned a lot! I certainly didn't learn much about John Hancock in school and that's sad because he did live an interesting life as part of his role in the Revolutionary War. I recommend this to those who want to learn and who like history. 4.5 stars. Narration was excellent!
August 18, 2025
Dave’s Summary
John Hancock: First to Sign, First to Invest in America’s Independence by Willard Sterne Randall traces the life of one of America’s most well-known Founding Fathers. The book follows Hancock’s rise from a young apprentice in his uncle’s Boston mercantile empire to becoming one of the wealthiest men in colonial America. His fortune and influence positioned him at the center of early resistance to British rule, where boycotts, smuggling, and defiance of unfair taxes brought him into politics. Hancock became a leader of Boston’s merchant class, aligned with Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty, and ultimately emerged as Massachusetts’s most popular political figure.
Randall shares details of Hancock’s key role as president of the Continental Congress, where he signed the Declaration of Independence in large letters, symbolizing courage and defiance. The book then follows his years as governor of Massachusetts, where he helped guide the state through war, and economic crisis, plus debates over the content of the U.S. Constitution.
Hancock faced many health challenges but was recognized for both his public service and his memorable signature that came to represent the Revolution itself.
Key Takeaways
John Hancock rose from his uncle’s merchant business to become one of the wealthiest men in colonial America.
His business empire thrived on trade, smuggling, and early forms of franchising, giving him major economic influence.
British taxes and trade restrictions, including the Stamp Act and Townshend Acts, directly threatened Hancock’s fortune, pushing him into politics.
He aligned with Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty, using his wealth to support resistance and boycotts against British goods.
Hancock became Boston’s most popular political leader, eventually serving as president of the Continental Congress.
He was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence, with his oversized signature becoming a symbol of defiance.
As governor of Massachusetts, he guided the state through the Revolution, Shays’ Rebellion, and the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
He advocated for education, relief for widows and orphans, and laws upholding community values.
Hancock’s leadership style combined generosity, political maneuvering, and a role as mediator during intense divisions.
Despite chronic illness and a weakened final decade, Hancock left a lasting legacy as a statesman and symbol of independence.
Highlights From The Book
John Hancock is primarily remembered for his large, flamboyant signature on the Declaration of Independence. According to a story that originated years later, he said that he signed his name large and clear so that King George III could read it without his spectacles. Contrary to legend, there was no ceremonial signing on July 4, 1776. After Congress approved the text on July 4, Hancock signed the approved copy as president of Congress before sending it to the printer John Dunlap, who produced the first published version to be widely distributed as a broadside. Hancock was the only delegate whose name appeared on it. His iconic signature appears on a sheet of parchment carefully printed two weeks later and signed by Hancock and all the delegates present on August 2, although the location of this version was originally kept a secret.
Hancock had to sign every document issued by Congress and he generated much of its correspondence. Even when exhausted, he threw himself into the work, making it a more personal role than merely presiding over meetings. His growing responsibilities seemed to exhilarate him. He seemed to be everywhere. When he wasn’t attending committee meetings, he was summarizing their recommendations and disseminating the decisions of the whole Congress. He kept the Revolutionary leaders of each colony abreast of troop movements by sister colonies and forwarded intelligence of enemy movements.
It was years before most people knew that Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, so carefully was the secret locked up in the anonymity of a Revolutionary committee. According to a letter Jefferson wrote to James Madison in 1823, when he finished his rough draft, “before I reported it to the committee, I communicated it separately to Dr. Franklin and Mr. Adams requesting their corrections.” Franklin and Adams made minor changes of a word here, a word there, interlining them in their own hands. On July 2, Congress, after voting in favor of the resolution on independence, sat as a committee of the whole. For two and a half days, the representatives debated every line and provision, with Hancock moderating the discussion. No one took notes except for a few details Jefferson himself wrote down.
John Hancock: First to Sign, First to Invest in America’s Independence by Willard Sterne Randall traces the life of one of America’s most well-known Founding Fathers. The book follows Hancock’s rise from a young apprentice in his uncle’s Boston mercantile empire to becoming one of the wealthiest men in colonial America. His fortune and influence positioned him at the center of early resistance to British rule, where boycotts, smuggling, and defiance of unfair taxes brought him into politics. Hancock became a leader of Boston’s merchant class, aligned with Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty, and ultimately emerged as Massachusetts’s most popular political figure.
Randall shares details of Hancock’s key role as president of the Continental Congress, where he signed the Declaration of Independence in large letters, symbolizing courage and defiance. The book then follows his years as governor of Massachusetts, where he helped guide the state through war, and economic crisis, plus debates over the content of the U.S. Constitution.
Hancock faced many health challenges but was recognized for both his public service and his memorable signature that came to represent the Revolution itself.
Key Takeaways
John Hancock rose from his uncle’s merchant business to become one of the wealthiest men in colonial America.
His business empire thrived on trade, smuggling, and early forms of franchising, giving him major economic influence.
British taxes and trade restrictions, including the Stamp Act and Townshend Acts, directly threatened Hancock’s fortune, pushing him into politics.
He aligned with Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty, using his wealth to support resistance and boycotts against British goods.
Hancock became Boston’s most popular political leader, eventually serving as president of the Continental Congress.
He was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence, with his oversized signature becoming a symbol of defiance.
As governor of Massachusetts, he guided the state through the Revolution, Shays’ Rebellion, and the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
He advocated for education, relief for widows and orphans, and laws upholding community values.
Hancock’s leadership style combined generosity, political maneuvering, and a role as mediator during intense divisions.
Despite chronic illness and a weakened final decade, Hancock left a lasting legacy as a statesman and symbol of independence.
Highlights From The Book
John Hancock is primarily remembered for his large, flamboyant signature on the Declaration of Independence. According to a story that originated years later, he said that he signed his name large and clear so that King George III could read it without his spectacles. Contrary to legend, there was no ceremonial signing on July 4, 1776. After Congress approved the text on July 4, Hancock signed the approved copy as president of Congress before sending it to the printer John Dunlap, who produced the first published version to be widely distributed as a broadside. Hancock was the only delegate whose name appeared on it. His iconic signature appears on a sheet of parchment carefully printed two weeks later and signed by Hancock and all the delegates present on August 2, although the location of this version was originally kept a secret.
Hancock had to sign every document issued by Congress and he generated much of its correspondence. Even when exhausted, he threw himself into the work, making it a more personal role than merely presiding over meetings. His growing responsibilities seemed to exhilarate him. He seemed to be everywhere. When he wasn’t attending committee meetings, he was summarizing their recommendations and disseminating the decisions of the whole Congress. He kept the Revolutionary leaders of each colony abreast of troop movements by sister colonies and forwarded intelligence of enemy movements.
It was years before most people knew that Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, so carefully was the secret locked up in the anonymity of a Revolutionary committee. According to a letter Jefferson wrote to James Madison in 1823, when he finished his rough draft, “before I reported it to the committee, I communicated it separately to Dr. Franklin and Mr. Adams requesting their corrections.” Franklin and Adams made minor changes of a word here, a word there, interlining them in their own hands. On July 2, Congress, after voting in favor of the resolution on independence, sat as a committee of the whole. For two and a half days, the representatives debated every line and provision, with Hancock moderating the discussion. No one took notes except for a few details Jefferson himself wrote down.
October 9, 2025
Really enjoyed this book. The biography did a wonderful job in explaining how John Hancock’s largesse helped fund the American Revolution and there was a lot of material presented which is not commonly known or understood. I thought the book was particularly strong in explaining Colonial commerce and presented a balanced view of the relationship between Great Britain and its former colonies.
October 5, 2025
A little dry, a little too long, but I liked it and learned a lot!!!!!
August 25, 2025
Willard Sterne Randall’s “John Hancock: First to Sign, First to Invest in America’s Independence” offers a compelling and thoroughly researched portrait of a Founding Father too often overshadowed by myths about his signature rather than his substance. Randall, a biographer known for illuminating complex Revolutionary-era figures, approaches Hancock with a keen eye for both financial intrigue and political nuance, presenting him as a shrewd investor, political operator, and ardent patriot who shaped the destiny of a fledgling nation. Randall’s narrative sharply distinguishes Hancock from the caricature sometimes drawn in American lore—a foppish merchant or merely a wealthy figurehead eager for publicity. Instead, this biography underscores Hancock’s pivotal role as a financier of the Revolution, risking his own considerable fortune at a moment when independence was far from a foregone conclusion. Randall delves into Hancock’s Boston background, detailing the inheritance of his uncle’s thriving mercantile business, and his early clashes with British customs officials—episodes that sowed the seeds of Hancock’s revolutionary zeal. By analyzing Hancock’s leadership of the Second Continental Congress and his tenure as Massachusetts governor, Randall constantly reminds readers of the political risk and administrative burdens shouldered by Hancock, along with his consistent advocacy for colonial unity. The book’s most intriguing sections focus on Hancock’s relationships—with Samuel Adams, George Washington, and British authorities—and the rivalries and alliances that helped steer the course of the Revolution. Randall pays particular attention to the complexity of Hancock’s motivations, neither lionizing him nor succumbing to the temptation of revisionist cynicism. Instead, readers get a textured account of a man whose ego, ambition, and managerial acumen were indispensable to the American cause. In sum, Randall’s biography provides both depth and drama, wrapping fresh archival research in accessible, lively prose. For students of Revolutionary history and financial strategy alike, “John Hancock: First to Sign, First to Invest in America’s Independence” stands out as an essential reassessment of a figure whose investments—both financial and moral—helped make American independence a reality.
September 14, 2025
Extremely captivating new biography of the man with the distinctive, designed and well-rehearsed signature. It contains detailed narratives of our country's founding years that neither my husband nor I had ever heard before. Randall mentions in his introduction that much of what had been published about Hancock was written by his critics. Randall succeeds in presenting John Hancock as the incredibly brilliant entrepreneur, patriot, and leader that he was. He was amazingly generous with his time and wealth, literally working himself to death at the age of 56. Why did we not know all this before? In the acknowledgments Randall explains that newly digitized historic records, newspapers, speeches and correspondence had become available through Google and Project Gutenberg shortly before the pandemic shutdown of libraries, i.e. just in time for him to do three years of research for the book conveniently from his own computer.
February 15, 2025
If you are looking for a relatively simple and informative read about one of the main leaders of our nations first pass at government, this is a very solid choice. Randall is an established biographer who knows how craft well and it’s a very enjoyable and well researched look into Hancock’s life.
I did find the book quite repetitive and overly positive at times. Hancock often reads as a well loved man who was popular but there is little critical feedback of how his peers viewed him and how he managed some of the horrific parts of this early country such as slavery and the take over of Native American lands. Very little in here also tested the politics of the age which would have helped many stories in this book. I know the author was trying to provide a different look into Hancock’s life but I think it went too far to celebrate him as a heroic figure vs a real person with nuance. Much of the book about his gout was over done and went on for too long of a time.
Overall, this is a solid biography and I learned a lot about Hancock not previously taught in history classes so worth a quick read given he is one of the main revolutionary figures.
I did find the book quite repetitive and overly positive at times. Hancock often reads as a well loved man who was popular but there is little critical feedback of how his peers viewed him and how he managed some of the horrific parts of this early country such as slavery and the take over of Native American lands. Very little in here also tested the politics of the age which would have helped many stories in this book. I know the author was trying to provide a different look into Hancock’s life but I think it went too far to celebrate him as a heroic figure vs a real person with nuance. Much of the book about his gout was over done and went on for too long of a time.
Overall, this is a solid biography and I learned a lot about Hancock not previously taught in history classes so worth a quick read given he is one of the main revolutionary figures.
June 28, 2025
(Audiobook) A solid, if not spectacular, biography about one of the more famous, but least known, of the Founding Fathers. Most know him as the President of the Continental Congress when the Declaration of Independence came into being, and that his was the 1st and largest signature on that document. Yet, there is more to his life than just that one document. He was one of the leading businessmen in Massachusetts in the lead-up to the American Revolution, and became a force in the Massachusetts delegation, even if he lacked the fire of Sam Adams or the political acumen of John Adams. He would go on to be a leading political figure in Massachusetts as a governor in the last years of his life, usually as a moderate. However, there isn’t a lot of direct correspondence for historians to sort through, so the author had to do a lot of research of other documents/sources to try to get information on the man. Was Hancock the braggart of his reputation? Not necessarily, or at least, no more or less than any other figure in the founding of the American Republic. Still, worth the read just to try to get some insight into a known, but not really known/understood figure in US History.
November 18, 2025
Flat 3.0, not 3.25. Simple. This falls right on the midpoint beam.
Per a guide to reading nonfiction that I read earlier this year, I knew the basics — wealthy from shipping and smuggling, leader in Massachusetts, bits though not all of his struggle and fallout with Sam Adams. I had read before, I believe, that John Adams’ claim he was angry with jealousy over JA not nominating him to be C-in-C of the Continental Army, appears to be a confabulation. I did learn more of the details here (tho that’s Wiki article level). It was written after the two had a falling-out, and after Hancock’s death. That gets back to the thinness of the bio. (That said, he had militia command experience, and reportedly had a sword and rifle ready at Concord.) In addition, Randall says Hancock surely knew his recurring gout left him physically unfit for such a role. AND, he’d already named Washington to more than one military preparedness and supplies committee in the Congress.
Hancock left no personal papers or diary. (He can’t refute Adams there, either, then.)
The three “tea” ships of 1773 were owned by a major shipping rival. This wasn’t the major factor, but, Francis Rotch did become a Loyalist, trading with Britain during the war. Randall doesn’t mention this. That said, he’s so obscure I find 1820 and 1822 for death dates.
Hancock gave a big speech, co-written with Sam Adams and Rev. Samuel Cooper, a few months later, on the fourth anniversary of the Boston Massacre. Hugely well-received. He reissued a call for a continental congress.
Randall takes Maj. Pitcairn at face value and says “Patriots fired first” at Lexington. British war crimes in retreat from Concord noted. Horribly quality of ammunition, he says, leads some historians to estimate just 1 in 300 patriot shots hit anybody. (No wonder Ben Franklin suggested the bow and arrow.) You can tell us all this but not give us more depth on what might have happened at Lexington?
Meanwhile, when Hancock fled Boston in April 1775, he took not only his personal cash, gold, etc.,but also most finances and records of Harvard for safekeeping as its treasurer. Hold on to that.
Was Sam Adams omitted from the Declaration-writing committee because he was already in opposition of sorts to Hancock back in Massachusetts? Randall doesn’t explore this.
Fallout between them increases. When Hancock tells Congress, late 1777, that his gout is so bad he needs a leave of absence, Sam Adams gets all of Mass. representatives to vote against this. Ditto when Hancock talks to Congress about getting a small military escort from Washington. (Schiff, in her SA bio, says that Hancock thought SA was part of the Conway Cabal, but she doesn’t pursue that herself.
Late in 1776, a Harvard representative shows up wanting the goods Hancock took out of Boston. And interest. Hancock supposedly suspects they really want his resignation but won’t give them that. Gives a ready reckoning on money. Says he’ll give final amount, with info on how much interest any securities would have earned, but no more than that. Harvard board of overseers by 1777 wants triple interest. No dice. And still no resignation. James Bowdoin, of whom he’d made an enemy on some Boston church charity several years ago, was reportedly behind this. (The dispute, per Wiki’s page, even continued after his death, when his estate paid out something!)
Bowdoin was essentially Massachusetts’ executive at the time that Sam Adams starts turning against Hancock. Hancock defeated him for governor in 1780. Hancock resigns in 1785, replaced by Bowdoin. Hancock back in 1787, so Shays’ Rebellion was on Bowdoin’s watch.
On Shays' Rebellion, it's good. Bowdoin raises money from most rich merchants to pay a militia. Hancock refuses. Bowdoin's men join Benjamin Lincoln's Continentals. I knew little of the details before. Reportedly, Shays had offered command of the movement to Ethan Allen, but he refused. Randall mentions this point after Lincoln chased Shays into Vermont. Shays himself never surrendered; tightest followers remained in Vermont.
Re-elected to beat Bowdoin, he pardons all but four. Without attested support, Randall claims this backboned later taxpayer revolts like the Whiskey Rebellion. And, even there, he mentions by name only the Whiskey Rebellion. On the pardons, even if Hancock left no personal papers, do state of Massachusetts documents say NOTHING about his reasoning?
Hancock, enfeebled, elected to chair Massachusetts' Constitutional Convention. He misses most sessions, but shows up several weeks in, with a big speech supporting adoption IF it had a bill of rights. Sam Adams agrees vocably. One week later, it passed, Massachusetts as the sixth state.
Note: This is apparently the first full bio since William Fowler’s “The Baron of Beacon Hill” in 1980. It’s about 3/4 the length, so Randall obviously didn’t find anything new. Yes, no proviate papers have surfaced in 45 years, but we have Schiff’s bio of Sam Adams, with all his papers, written a couple of years ago. I mean, if you’re doing the first biography of a theoretically important historical figure in nearly 50 years, shouldn’t you be finding SOMETHING new on material? And more pages? And on what to say? Sadly, that pre-Goodreads era book has just 3 reviews.
Errors, issues and problems:
Randall claims that one of the “supra-Admirality” courts Britain created after the Tea Party, to supersede the single one in Halifax, was in New Orleans. New Orleans, you say? Did Pakenham try to take Andy Jackson there?
Clinton evacuated Philadelphia, not Howe.
Who cites Douglas Southall Freeman as a reference any more? Surely John Sullivan's comment to D'Estaing can be found elsewphere.
Anyway, stuff like this shows the amount of filler in the book.
Doesn't really explain use of "Whig" in pre-Revolution US; it's just a takeoff on British Whigs.
Per a guide to reading nonfiction that I read earlier this year, I knew the basics — wealthy from shipping and smuggling, leader in Massachusetts, bits though not all of his struggle and fallout with Sam Adams. I had read before, I believe, that John Adams’ claim he was angry with jealousy over JA not nominating him to be C-in-C of the Continental Army, appears to be a confabulation. I did learn more of the details here (tho that’s Wiki article level). It was written after the two had a falling-out, and after Hancock’s death. That gets back to the thinness of the bio. (That said, he had militia command experience, and reportedly had a sword and rifle ready at Concord.) In addition, Randall says Hancock surely knew his recurring gout left him physically unfit for such a role. AND, he’d already named Washington to more than one military preparedness and supplies committee in the Congress.
Hancock left no personal papers or diary. (He can’t refute Adams there, either, then.)
The three “tea” ships of 1773 were owned by a major shipping rival. This wasn’t the major factor, but, Francis Rotch did become a Loyalist, trading with Britain during the war. Randall doesn’t mention this. That said, he’s so obscure I find 1820 and 1822 for death dates.
Hancock gave a big speech, co-written with Sam Adams and Rev. Samuel Cooper, a few months later, on the fourth anniversary of the Boston Massacre. Hugely well-received. He reissued a call for a continental congress.
Randall takes Maj. Pitcairn at face value and says “Patriots fired first” at Lexington. British war crimes in retreat from Concord noted. Horribly quality of ammunition, he says, leads some historians to estimate just 1 in 300 patriot shots hit anybody. (No wonder Ben Franklin suggested the bow and arrow.) You can tell us all this but not give us more depth on what might have happened at Lexington?
Meanwhile, when Hancock fled Boston in April 1775, he took not only his personal cash, gold, etc.,but also most finances and records of Harvard for safekeeping as its treasurer. Hold on to that.
Was Sam Adams omitted from the Declaration-writing committee because he was already in opposition of sorts to Hancock back in Massachusetts? Randall doesn’t explore this.
Fallout between them increases. When Hancock tells Congress, late 1777, that his gout is so bad he needs a leave of absence, Sam Adams gets all of Mass. representatives to vote against this. Ditto when Hancock talks to Congress about getting a small military escort from Washington. (Schiff, in her SA bio, says that Hancock thought SA was part of the Conway Cabal, but she doesn’t pursue that herself.
Late in 1776, a Harvard representative shows up wanting the goods Hancock took out of Boston. And interest. Hancock supposedly suspects they really want his resignation but won’t give them that. Gives a ready reckoning on money. Says he’ll give final amount, with info on how much interest any securities would have earned, but no more than that. Harvard board of overseers by 1777 wants triple interest. No dice. And still no resignation. James Bowdoin, of whom he’d made an enemy on some Boston church charity several years ago, was reportedly behind this. (The dispute, per Wiki’s page, even continued after his death, when his estate paid out something!)
Bowdoin was essentially Massachusetts’ executive at the time that Sam Adams starts turning against Hancock. Hancock defeated him for governor in 1780. Hancock resigns in 1785, replaced by Bowdoin. Hancock back in 1787, so Shays’ Rebellion was on Bowdoin’s watch.
On Shays' Rebellion, it's good. Bowdoin raises money from most rich merchants to pay a militia. Hancock refuses. Bowdoin's men join Benjamin Lincoln's Continentals. I knew little of the details before. Reportedly, Shays had offered command of the movement to Ethan Allen, but he refused. Randall mentions this point after Lincoln chased Shays into Vermont. Shays himself never surrendered; tightest followers remained in Vermont.
Re-elected to beat Bowdoin, he pardons all but four. Without attested support, Randall claims this backboned later taxpayer revolts like the Whiskey Rebellion. And, even there, he mentions by name only the Whiskey Rebellion. On the pardons, even if Hancock left no personal papers, do state of Massachusetts documents say NOTHING about his reasoning?
Hancock, enfeebled, elected to chair Massachusetts' Constitutional Convention. He misses most sessions, but shows up several weeks in, with a big speech supporting adoption IF it had a bill of rights. Sam Adams agrees vocably. One week later, it passed, Massachusetts as the sixth state.
Note: This is apparently the first full bio since William Fowler’s “The Baron of Beacon Hill” in 1980. It’s about 3/4 the length, so Randall obviously didn’t find anything new. Yes, no proviate papers have surfaced in 45 years, but we have Schiff’s bio of Sam Adams, with all his papers, written a couple of years ago. I mean, if you’re doing the first biography of a theoretically important historical figure in nearly 50 years, shouldn’t you be finding SOMETHING new on material? And more pages? And on what to say? Sadly, that pre-Goodreads era book has just 3 reviews.
Errors, issues and problems:
Randall claims that one of the “supra-Admirality” courts Britain created after the Tea Party, to supersede the single one in Halifax, was in New Orleans. New Orleans, you say? Did Pakenham try to take Andy Jackson there?
Clinton evacuated Philadelphia, not Howe.
Who cites Douglas Southall Freeman as a reference any more? Surely John Sullivan's comment to D'Estaing can be found elsewphere.
Anyway, stuff like this shows the amount of filler in the book.
Doesn't really explain use of "Whig" in pre-Revolution US; it's just a takeoff on British Whigs.
July 14, 2025
Biography of the Massachusetts statesmen and businessman John Hancock. His impact on the events of the American Revolution and its aftermath are explored.
A solidly written look at an important figure in American and Massachusetts history. This was my first time reading this author, and I appreciate that he chose to focus on an underexplored figure from the Revolutionary time period. The book delved into some interesting corners of Hancock's life, including his complicated relationship with fellow Massachusetts luminary Samuel Adams and his at-times strained association with his alma mater, Harvard. The book is slight, at under 250 pages. There are also portions, particularly in the post-war section, where I felt Hancock receded too far into the background of the biography. On the whole, a quality read about a singularly important American figure.
A solidly written look at an important figure in American and Massachusetts history. This was my first time reading this author, and I appreciate that he chose to focus on an underexplored figure from the Revolutionary time period. The book delved into some interesting corners of Hancock's life, including his complicated relationship with fellow Massachusetts luminary Samuel Adams and his at-times strained association with his alma mater, Harvard. The book is slight, at under 250 pages. There are also portions, particularly in the post-war section, where I felt Hancock receded too far into the background of the biography. On the whole, a quality read about a singularly important American figure.
August 1, 2025
According to the author, John Hancock left little of personal letters and papers behind. Much of what is pieced together here is drawn from peripheral and adjacent sources. For many of us who are not scholars of American history, John Hancock is the bold signature on the Declaration of Independence and an insurance company in Boston. It was truly an awakening to realize, from this fleshing out of the man and his influence on the birth of the United States, how Hancock played a major role in holding things together in the rocky years between the Declaration and the codifying of the country with a constitution. He was both despised and revered, and his wealth and magnanimity played no small part in his ability to gather support and votes to win positions of power in Massachusetts and the Continental Congress.
July 4, 2025
Good book about John Hancock - a man much larger to the success of the Revolution and the early nation than just his signature. Hancock was a leading businessman in Boston who managed a global enterprise. He devoted his fortune to the new nation. He worked hard on behalf of the small business people he worked with throughout the colonies. Today we might call him a populist. Suffering from gout through most of his life, he died young. Our nation owes a big debt to John Hancock and this book very nicely explains why.
September 2, 2025
I enjoyed this book and it made me realize how much I’d forgotten (or never really learned) about the American revolution, what led to it and what it took to sign the constitution and bill of rights.
Hancock played a big role in all of it and he has the big signature to prove it :)
Definitely worth a read and now I’m interested in delving deeper into the late 1700s, especially as our current administration is trying to make a mockery out of the amazing foundation our forefathers like Hancock left us.
Hancock played a big role in all of it and he has the big signature to prove it :)
Definitely worth a read and now I’m interested in delving deeper into the late 1700s, especially as our current administration is trying to make a mockery out of the amazing foundation our forefathers like Hancock left us.
August 2, 2025
This book offers a sharp glimpse into the life of a man whose legacy is boldly inked but quietly lived. With few personal papers, the story leans on others’ perspectives to reveal a wealthy patriot who risked it all for revolution
August 24, 2025
Colonial History Explained
I enjoyed learning/relearning American colonial history via Hancock. He was quite the public servant, unlike politicians today. I wasn't aware of his personal sacrifices.
I enjoyed learning/relearning American colonial history via Hancock. He was quite the public servant, unlike politicians today. I wasn't aware of his personal sacrifices.
August 28, 2025
This book was fascinating! I learned so much about John Hancock. This book is a great read! On a side note, this book is fun to read if you've been to Boston and you can picture the locations discussed in this book.
Great read! Highly recommended!
Great read! Highly recommended!
June 29, 2025
A well written account of a founding father who doesn't seem to get the recognition he deserves. Certainly, he served the citizens of Boston, Massachusetts, and the fledgling US of A extremely well.
July 13, 2025
A good, if somewhat light, biography of Hancock. I feel that it lacks true depth and substance, but that could be due to the lack of primary sources.
August 6, 2025
4-1/2⭐️ history book about the little known “Founding Father,” John Hancock! I had very little understanding of Hancock beyond his oversized signature on the Declaration of Independence.
July 6, 2025
Summary: A biography going beyond the flourishing signature to the critical role Hancock played in the American Revolution.
For many of us, the name John Hancock has become synonymous with a flourishing signature, and little more. Some of us know a bit more, that the context of that signature was the Declaration of Independence. What I discovered in reading this biography was that in the first published versions of the Declaration, his signature is the only one, representing his position as President of the Continental Congress. It made him the special object of British attention as a traitor, leading to flight from his Boston home for a time.
All this underscores historian Willard Sterne Randall’s assessment that Hancock played a critical role in the American Revolution. That assessment represents recent archival research. But it was not always so. In 1930, James Truslow Adams described Hancock as “an empty barrel” whose reputation rested on “his money and his gout, the first always used to gain popularity, and the second to prevent his losing it.” Randall makes a very different case.
He begins with Hancock’s humble beginnings as the seven year old son of a clergyman who died. Hancock was subsequently taken under the wing of his uncle Thomas Hancock, who made his fortune as a merchant and shipbuilder. This afforded him a gentleman’s education, including attendance at a writing school to prepare him for work in his uncle’s mercantile enterprises. He completed his Harvard education in time to assist his uncle in the lucrative trade connected with Britain’s French and Indian War.
It was the aftermath of that war that brought the House of Hancock into conflict with the British over customs duties and the seizure of merchandise on which merchants were judged to be evading customs duties. It was also during this time that Thomas began to hand off the business to his capable nephew, making him partner and heir. Thomas was dying of gout, the condition that would later afflict John. Thomas died in 1764, leaving John one of the wealthiest men in the colonies at age 27.
Almost immediately, he plunged into challenging times as business slumped and Parliament passed the hated Stamp Act.. He joined firebrand Sam Adams in resistance to the Act including a boycott. He also seized the opportunity afforded by the Repeal to refocus his trade, building his fortune. Peace was short-lived as the Townshend Acts led to the imposition of new duties. Hancock personally barred a custom’s commissioner bearing outdated orders, precipitating a trial.
The resistance led to British troops in Boston, Hancock’s leadership of the Boston Town Meeting, and his efforts to support armed resistance. Randall’s account traces the subsequent unfolding of events including Hancock;s leadership in Massachusetts and then as President of the Continental Congress. He traces Hancock’s partnership with Washington to provide him the means to fight the British. Hancock spent roughly half of his own wealth in this effort. He also spent his own health, as he increasingly suffered gout attacks.
Randall also describes Hancock’s falling out with Sam Adams as they became political rivals in Massachusetts state government. One of his acts as governor was to advocate ratification of the new Constitution. One of the saddest passages in the book is his meeting with Washington in late 1789. Each witnessed the ravages of the years on the other. Washington wept at how enfeebled Hancock had become.
In conclusion, Randall makes a case for the pivotal contribution Hancock made to American beginnings. First, he was in the forefront of resistance to British policies. He had the foresight to prepare for armed resistance. In addition, he used all his experience with the French and Indian War to provision the troops. He gave political leadership both in Boston and the Continental Congress. Then, he invested a substantial part of his own fortune in the effort. Finally, he gave leadership that helped put his state and the fledgling country on a firm footing. Thus, we learn that this oft-neglected Founder contributed far more than his flourishing signature.
____________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.
For many of us, the name John Hancock has become synonymous with a flourishing signature, and little more. Some of us know a bit more, that the context of that signature was the Declaration of Independence. What I discovered in reading this biography was that in the first published versions of the Declaration, his signature is the only one, representing his position as President of the Continental Congress. It made him the special object of British attention as a traitor, leading to flight from his Boston home for a time.
All this underscores historian Willard Sterne Randall’s assessment that Hancock played a critical role in the American Revolution. That assessment represents recent archival research. But it was not always so. In 1930, James Truslow Adams described Hancock as “an empty barrel” whose reputation rested on “his money and his gout, the first always used to gain popularity, and the second to prevent his losing it.” Randall makes a very different case.
He begins with Hancock’s humble beginnings as the seven year old son of a clergyman who died. Hancock was subsequently taken under the wing of his uncle Thomas Hancock, who made his fortune as a merchant and shipbuilder. This afforded him a gentleman’s education, including attendance at a writing school to prepare him for work in his uncle’s mercantile enterprises. He completed his Harvard education in time to assist his uncle in the lucrative trade connected with Britain’s French and Indian War.
It was the aftermath of that war that brought the House of Hancock into conflict with the British over customs duties and the seizure of merchandise on which merchants were judged to be evading customs duties. It was also during this time that Thomas began to hand off the business to his capable nephew, making him partner and heir. Thomas was dying of gout, the condition that would later afflict John. Thomas died in 1764, leaving John one of the wealthiest men in the colonies at age 27.
Almost immediately, he plunged into challenging times as business slumped and Parliament passed the hated Stamp Act.. He joined firebrand Sam Adams in resistance to the Act including a boycott. He also seized the opportunity afforded by the Repeal to refocus his trade, building his fortune. Peace was short-lived as the Townshend Acts led to the imposition of new duties. Hancock personally barred a custom’s commissioner bearing outdated orders, precipitating a trial.
The resistance led to British troops in Boston, Hancock’s leadership of the Boston Town Meeting, and his efforts to support armed resistance. Randall’s account traces the subsequent unfolding of events including Hancock;s leadership in Massachusetts and then as President of the Continental Congress. He traces Hancock’s partnership with Washington to provide him the means to fight the British. Hancock spent roughly half of his own wealth in this effort. He also spent his own health, as he increasingly suffered gout attacks.
Randall also describes Hancock’s falling out with Sam Adams as they became political rivals in Massachusetts state government. One of his acts as governor was to advocate ratification of the new Constitution. One of the saddest passages in the book is his meeting with Washington in late 1789. Each witnessed the ravages of the years on the other. Washington wept at how enfeebled Hancock had become.
In conclusion, Randall makes a case for the pivotal contribution Hancock made to American beginnings. First, he was in the forefront of resistance to British policies. He had the foresight to prepare for armed resistance. In addition, he used all his experience with the French and Indian War to provision the troops. He gave political leadership both in Boston and the Continental Congress. Then, he invested a substantial part of his own fortune in the effort. Finally, he gave leadership that helped put his state and the fledgling country on a firm footing. Thus, we learn that this oft-neglected Founder contributed far more than his flourishing signature.
____________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.
December 5, 2025
Hancock is an often overlooked ‘Founding Father’ despite having signed his enormous signature at the bottom of the Declaration of Independence. He did not write extensively; did not play a leading military role; and unlike John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, he did not make it to the presidency.
However, it was Hancock who led the Second Continental Congress to appoint the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence. He also raised funds for the Continental Army and oversaw shipbuilding efforts for the Navy.
Hancock lost his father when he was just 8 years old. He was blessed when his wealthy, childless uncle and aunt, Thomas and Lydia Hancock, took him in. He became the adopted son and heir to one of colonial America’s wealthiest entrepreneurs. After his uncle’s death in 1764, Hancock expanded the business—cornering the Nantucket whale oil market and introducing franchises. John Adams, a lifelong friend, recalled him as “steady, ready, punctual, industrious and indefatigable”.
He helped push the Constitution through, helping offset contending state interests in the fight over the Articles of Confederation. He championed nine “Conciliatory Amendments” that led to the Bill of Rights.
In 1780, Hancock was elected the first governor of the commonwealth of Massachusetts; and served as such for many years. Sadly, his health declined precipitously in the early 1790s—dying in 1793 at the age of 56.
However, it was Hancock who led the Second Continental Congress to appoint the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence. He also raised funds for the Continental Army and oversaw shipbuilding efforts for the Navy.
Hancock lost his father when he was just 8 years old. He was blessed when his wealthy, childless uncle and aunt, Thomas and Lydia Hancock, took him in. He became the adopted son and heir to one of colonial America’s wealthiest entrepreneurs. After his uncle’s death in 1764, Hancock expanded the business—cornering the Nantucket whale oil market and introducing franchises. John Adams, a lifelong friend, recalled him as “steady, ready, punctual, industrious and indefatigable”.
He helped push the Constitution through, helping offset contending state interests in the fight over the Articles of Confederation. He championed nine “Conciliatory Amendments” that led to the Bill of Rights.
In 1780, Hancock was elected the first governor of the commonwealth of Massachusetts; and served as such for many years. Sadly, his health declined precipitously in the early 1790s—dying in 1793 at the age of 56.
March 29, 2025
I received an ARC (advanced reader copy) of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review on my Goodreads page. Mr. Randall is known for his many wonderful biographies and histories of the Founding Fathers and the Revolutionary period. This book was a sorely needed modern day biography of one of the most little known Founding Fathers, John Hancock. I read a biography on Hancock last year that left a terrible impression of him as a snob, among other things. This biography was much more cheerful and showed just how essential Hancock was to the success of the Revolution and ultimately, the ratification of the Constitution. From his birth to his death, this book succinctly and chronologically covers Hancock's life. Many times historians will get too technical in their biographies, but this book was easy to read and enjoyable. It would be appropriate for reading for both the casual history buff and the more seasoned history reader. I especially enjoyed how the author put modern day dollar amounts when discussing money which in this instance, really supplied a great deal of modern perspective to just how much money Hancock spent on charity and the Revolution out of his own pocket. The book also gave the reader insight into the historical events surrounding the subject without being overpowering in this regard. Highly recommend this book and will purchase a copy for my library when it is released in June!
July 23, 2025
4 Stars – A Thorough and Engaging Portrait of a Revolutionary Icon
John Hancock by Willard Sterne Randall is a well-researched and engaging biography that shines a light on one of America's most recognizable (yet often misunderstood) Founding Fathers. Far more than just the guy with the flashy signature, Hancock comes alive in these pages as a complex figure—wealthy merchant, political strategist, reluctant revolutionary, and at times, a man caught between ambition and principle.
Randall does a great job situating Hancock within the broader context of the American Revolution, giving readers insight into the social and economic tensions that helped shape the period. The writing is accessible without sacrificing depth, and the author clearly did his homework. I especially appreciated the exploration of Hancock’s rivalry with other key figures and how his wealth and reputation influenced the early years of the independence movement.
At times, the pacing slowed with a little too much detail, especially in the financial and trade discussions, but overall, it was a fascinating read that added a lot to my understanding of early American politics and personality clashes.
Highly recommended for history buffs looking to go beyond the textbook version of the American Revolution.
John Hancock by Willard Sterne Randall is a well-researched and engaging biography that shines a light on one of America's most recognizable (yet often misunderstood) Founding Fathers. Far more than just the guy with the flashy signature, Hancock comes alive in these pages as a complex figure—wealthy merchant, political strategist, reluctant revolutionary, and at times, a man caught between ambition and principle.
Randall does a great job situating Hancock within the broader context of the American Revolution, giving readers insight into the social and economic tensions that helped shape the period. The writing is accessible without sacrificing depth, and the author clearly did his homework. I especially appreciated the exploration of Hancock’s rivalry with other key figures and how his wealth and reputation influenced the early years of the independence movement.
At times, the pacing slowed with a little too much detail, especially in the financial and trade discussions, but overall, it was a fascinating read that added a lot to my understanding of early American politics and personality clashes.
Highly recommended for history buffs looking to go beyond the textbook version of the American Revolution.
November 1, 2025
I knew very little about John Hancock before reading this book, and I am afraid that still remains the same AFTER reading this book.
While I *DID* learn some interesting things/facts about that time and his life, most of the things I learned had nothing to do with John Hancock and everything to do with what was going on around him. Unfortunately, for me, this book was mostly a slog [when it absolutely shouldn't have been -I love this time period and was excited to read more about it] that was repetitive, filled with side jaunts that did not move the story forward, and I was left hugely disappointed by the end.
I was invited to read/review this by the publisher [PENGUIN GROUP Dutton/Dutton] and I thank them, the author and NetGalley for providing this print ARC in exchange for a honest review.
While I *DID* learn some interesting things/facts about that time and his life, most of the things I learned had nothing to do with John Hancock and everything to do with what was going on around him. Unfortunately, for me, this book was mostly a slog [when it absolutely shouldn't have been -I love this time period and was excited to read more about it] that was repetitive, filled with side jaunts that did not move the story forward, and I was left hugely disappointed by the end.
I was invited to read/review this by the publisher [PENGUIN GROUP Dutton/Dutton] and I thank them, the author and NetGalley for providing this print ARC in exchange for a honest review.
August 7, 2025
It’s not that it’s “bad”, per se; it isn’t. It’s just… a book for readers with a passing interest in the subject, but who have not read extensively regarding the period or its central figures. It’s not a bad read, it just barely scratches the surface of Hancock, and as a biography, it lacks depth and detail. Not to mention the painfully obvious bias throughout. The author clearly loves him some Hancock and ‘Murica, and the narrative borders on the jingoistic at times. It’s like we do with children, we simplify narratives with clear good and bad guys, and a simple storyline. This is how this book is, and as a basic introduction to the man, it does its job. As anything more than that, however, and especially as anything scholarly or academic, it fails.
November 14, 2025
John Hancock First to Sign, First to Invest in America's Independence by Willard Sterne Randall was received directly from the publisher and I chose to review it. John Hancock, a rather famous founding father that no one really seems to know much about as there have been few books or movies about him, until now. This book details all of the major occurrences in the American Revolution. The Boston Tea Party to the battles of Lexington and Concord, onward to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, all had Hancock’s influence. This man helped make America what it is.
June 7, 2025
Offering a fresh perspective on the life of John Hancock, this engaging and informative biography reveals his pivotal role in the American Revolution. The book covers his business success, political career, and personal life, exploring his significant but often overlooked leadership and financial contributions to the independence movement.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
July 9, 2025
Excellent history of a prominent American hero of whom surprisingly little has been written. The true significance of Hancock's contribution to the the Revolution, establishment of the Constitution and the federal government itself and especially the value of his efforts in his home state of Massachusetts as well as his beloved city Boston is detailed in an interesting and informative way.
It was enjoyable reading the book!
It was enjoyable reading the book!
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