T5601-Let My Name Be Read Without Spectacles - John Hancock

“Let My Name Be Read Without Spectacles.”
At 39 years old, John Hancock of Massachusetts made a statement heard around the world—not with a speech, but with a signature. As President of the Continental Congress, Hancock was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence, and he did so with a flourish so large that it became legend. “There, John Bull can read my name without spectacles,” he declared, knowing full well he might be marked for death. One of the wealthiest men in the colonies, Hancock wagered his fortune and his life for liberty, funding militias, supplying arms, and giving generously to the cause. British authorities reportedly placed a price on his head, but he never flinched. His name became synonymous with courage and conviction—so much so that “John Hancock” remains a term for a signature to this day. He later served as the first elected governor of Massachusetts, but it was that moment in Philadelphia—pledging “our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor”—that meant most to him. Hancock didn’t just sign a document. He signed a future. Will you?

Categories: American History