John Hancock (January 23, 1737 [O.S. January 12, 1736] –
October 8, 1793) was a merchant, statesman, and prominent Patriot of the American
Revolution. He served as president of the Second Continental Congress and was
the first and third Governor of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts. He is remembered for his large and stylish signature on the United States Declaration
of Independence, so much so that "John Hancock" became, in the United
States, a synonym for "signature".