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 is 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.

Author: Willard Sterne Randall
Publisher: Dutton
Published: 06/10/2025
Pages: 288
Binding Type: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780593472149


Review Citation(s):
Library Journal 01/01/2025 pg. 9

About the Author
Willard Sterne Randall is a Distinguished Scholar in History and Professor Emeritus at Champlain College. Prior to academia, he worked for seventeen years as an investigative reporter--during which he garnered the National Magazine Award, the Hillman Prize, the Loeb Award, and the John Hancock Prize--eventually pursuing advanced studies in history at Princeton University. As a biographer and lecturer, he specializes in the history of the Founding Era.