Good post for this weekend about a man who is remembered more for a signature than for his seminal contributions.
Allow me please to add a few points that show both sides of his character (i.e., bravery and vanity). And, to those who know these stories about Hancock, please forgive me.
First, it was he and Sam Adams that the Brits were looking for when they marched to Lexington on that April morning in 1775 (and indeed, they were ALSO looking for the arms cache that the Patriots had stored there; they were going for a hat trick). It was Hancock who bought Sam a new suit of clothes for his trip to Philadelphia as a member of the Continental Congress (Sam was not known as a natty dresser).
During John Adams nominating speech for General Washington as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, Adams went on and on about the gentleman without naming him. Hancock sat there listening and puffing himself up, all the while thinking that Adams was talking about him.
That ended abruptly when Adams said: "...and this Virginian..."
Hancock was mortified.
The RevWar/Colonial History/General Washington ping list
Have a Great Fourth, my Brother and Sister Freepers!! Huzzah, Huzzah, Huzzah!!!