John Hancock signed the Declaration of Independence first, making his name especially prominent in America250 history.
Hancock was president of the Second Continental Congress when Congress adopted the declaration. As presiding officer, he placed his large, distinctive signature prominently beneath the text. His signature became so famous that “John Hancock” later became an informal American expression for a person’s signature.
Hancock was a wealthy Boston merchant and an important supporter of the revolutionary cause. Before becoming president of Congress, he had served in Massachusetts politics and had become a target of British authorities. His leadership gave the declaration’s adoption a highly visible public face.
John Hancock did not write the declaration; Thomas Jefferson wrote the principal draft. Benjamin Franklin also helped revise it and was one of the best-known signers. George Washington was not a signer because he was serving as commander in chief of the Continental Army rather than as a delegate to Congress.