[Pharmboy]

Thanks for the post, Salvation, and for the ping, my Patrioy friend NonValueAdded.

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!!!

[NonValueAdded]

As Hancock and Adams sat in the Hancock-Clarke parsonage in Lexington awaiting the arrival of the British, John Hancock was hard at work trying to sharpen his ceremonial sword, getting ready to fight the British. No shrinking violet was he.

A very tired Paul Revere made his way back to the parsonage and to his horror found these two sought-after patriots still there, arguing about what to do. Finally Revere & Adams convinced John that the battle was not for them, they were management. Off they went into the countryside ... and that's another story to tell on April 19th.

It is good that Hancock was not given the command that went to Washington because John was a very able President of the Continental Congress and his deal making acumen was instrumental in holding things together.