John Hancock

They cooperated in the revelation of private letters of Thomas Hutchinson in which the governor seemed to recommend "an abridgement of what are called English liberties" to bring order to the colony. Hancock and the Massachusetts House voted against rescinding the letter and instead drew up a petition demanding Governor Bernard's recall. When Congress recessed on August 1 1775 Hancock took the opportunity to wed his fiancée Dorothy "Dolly" Quincy.

He became very popular in Massachusetts especially after British officials seized his sloop Liberty in 1768 and charged him with smuggling. Hancock returned to Massachusetts and was elected governor of the Commonwealth serving in that role for most of his remaining years. S.