Editing John Hancock (section)

==Early life==
[[File:Coat of Arms of John Hancock.svg|175px|thumb|left|Coat of arms of John Hancock]]
Hancock was born on January 23, 1737,{{sfn|Allan|1948|pp=22, 372n48|ps=. The date was January 12, 1736, according to the [[Julian calendar]] then in use. Not all sources fully convert his birth date to the New Style, and so the date is also given as January 12, 1736 (Old Style), January 12, 1737 (partial conversion), or January 12, 1736/7 (dual dating).}} in [[Braintree, Massachusetts]], in a part of town that eventually became the separate city of [[Quincy, Massachusetts|Quincy]].{{sfn|Allan|1948|p=22}} He was the son of Colonel [[John Hancock Jr.]] of Braintree and Mary Hawke Thaxter (widow of [[Samuel Thaxter]] Junior), who was from nearby [[Hingham, Massachusetts|Hingham]]. As a child, Hancock became a casual acquaintance of young [[John Adams]], whom the Reverend Hancock had baptized in 1735.{{sfn|Fowler |1980|p=8}}{{sfn|Unger|2000|p=14}} The Hancocks lived a comfortable life and owned one slave to help with household work.{{sfn|Fowler|1980|p=8}}

After Hancock's father died in 1744, he was sent to live with his uncle and aunt, [[Thomas Hancock (merchant)|Thomas Hancock]] and Lydia (Henchman) Hancock. Thomas Hancock was the proprietor of a firm known as the House of Hancock, which imported manufactured goods from Britain and exported rum, whale oil, and fish.{{sfn|Fowler|2000b}} Thomas Hancock's highly successful business made him one of Boston's richest and best-known residents.{{sfn|Fowler|1980|pp=11–14}}{{sfn|Unger|2000|p=16}} He and Lydia, along with several servants and slaves, lived in [[Hancock Manor]] on [[Beacon Hill, Boston|Beacon Hill]]. The couple, who did not have any children of their own, became the dominant influence on John's life.{{sfn|Fowler|1980|p=18}}

After graduating from the [[Boston Latin School]] in 1750, Hancock enrolled in [[Harvard University|Harvard College]] and received a bachelor's degree in 1754.{{sfn|Fowler|1980|p=31}}{{sfn|Allan|1948|pp=32–41}} Upon graduation, he began to work for his uncle, just as the [[French and Indian War]] had begun. Thomas Hancock had close relations with the [[List of colonial governors of Massachusetts|royal governors of Massachusetts]] and secured profitable government contracts during the war.{{sfn|Allan|1948|p=61}} John Hancock learned much about his uncle's business during these years and was trained for eventual partnership in the firm. Hancock worked hard, but he also enjoyed playing the role of a wealthy aristocrat and developed a fondness for expensive clothes.{{sfn|Allan|1948|pp=58–59}}{{sfn|Unger|2000|p=50}}

From 1760 to 1761, Hancock lived in England while building relationships with customers and suppliers. Upon returning to Boston, Hancock gradually took over the House of Hancock as his uncle's health failed, becoming a full partner in January 1763.{{sfn|Fowler|1980|p=46}}{{sfn|Allan|1948|p=74}}{{sfn|Unger|2000|p=63}} He became a member of the [[Freemasonry|Masonic]] Lodge of St. Andrew in October 1762, which connected him with many of Boston's most influential citizens.{{sfn|Allan|1948|p=85}} When Thomas Hancock died in August 1764, John inherited the business, Hancock Manor, two or three household slaves, and thousands of acres of land, becoming one of the wealthiest men in the colonies.{{sfn|Fowler|1980|pp=48–59}}{{sfn|Unger|2000|pp=66–68}} The household slaves continued to work for John and his aunt, but were eventually freed through the terms of Thomas Hancock's will; there is no evidence that John Hancock ever bought or sold slaves.{{sfn|Fowler|1980|p=78}}