John Hancock’s name appears largest on the United States Declaration of Independence.
Hancock was president of the Second Continental Congress when the document was adopted. His unusually prominent signature appears below the text and is much larger than the other delegates’ names. The visual prominence helped create the lasting expression “put your John Hancock” as a synonym for signing one’s name.
Hancock signed as president of Congress rather than as the representative of Massachusetts in the ordinary list of state delegates. He had served in that leadership role since 1775 and was a major political figure in revolutionary Boston. His signature is therefore especially easy to identify on reproductions of the parchment.
A common mix-up is confusing Hancock with Thomas Jefferson, who wrote the original draft. Benjamin Franklin served on the drafting committee, while George Washington did not sign the Declaration because he was serving with the Continental Army.