Which signer’s oversized signature made his name a U.S. synonym for a signature?

John Hancock’s oversized signature made his name a United States synonym for a signature.

Hancock was president of the Second Continental Congress when it adopted the Declaration of Independence. His prominent signature appears first and is much larger and more flamboyant than the other names on the engrossed document.

That visual prominence helped create the expression “John Hancock,” meaning a person’s signature. In the United States, asking someone for their John Hancock became an informal way to request that they sign a document.

The popular story that Hancock made his signature large so King George III could read it is generally treated as a legend rather than a documented remark. Hancock’s real historical roles included merchant, revolutionary leader, congressional president, and governor of Massachusetts.