Why do they say put your John Hancock?

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When someone asks for your John Hancock, it means they want your signature. The use of John Henry to refer to a signature became popular in the western United States, fifty years after John Hancock signed the Declaration of Independence. Signing your John Henry is cowboy slang.



Hereof, where does the phrase John Hancock come from?

: The expression 'put your John Hancock here' refers to one of the officials who signed the Declaration of Independence, named John Hancock. He immediately became famous for signing the Declaration with a far larger signature than all the other delegates. The actual expression however didn't come into use until c.

Additionally, what is John Handcock? Cultural definitions for john hancock John Hancock. A signature: “Please help us out and put your John Hancock on our petition.” The expression refers to the bold signature that John Hancock wrote on the Declaration of Independence.

Regarding this, why did John Hancock sign his name big?

The details sometimes change, but the dramatic story arc remains the same: that John Hancock signed his name so large so that “someone can read my name without spectacles.”

What happened to John Hancock?

He was president of the Second Continental Congress from 1775 to 1777, when the Declaration of Independence was adopted and the United States was born. From 1780 to 1785, Hancock was the first governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He was reelected in 1787 and served until his death in 1793.

32 Related Question Answers Found

What was John Hancock's middle name?

John Hancock. John Hancock, (born January 12, 1737, Braintree (now in Quincy), Massachusetts—died October 8, 1793, Quincy, Massachusetts, U.S.), American statesman who was a leading figure during the Revolutionary War and the first signer of the U.S. Declaration of Independence.

How old were the signers of the Declaration?

As it turns out, many Founding Fathers were younger than 40 years old in 1776, with several qualifying as Founding Teenagers or Twentysomethings. And though the average age of the signers of the Declaration of Independence was 44, more than a dozen of them were 35 or younger.

Who signed Declaration of Independence?

Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams all wrote that it was signed by Congress on the day when it was adopted on July 4, 1776. That assertion is seemingly confirmed by the signed copy of the Declaration, which is dated July 4.

How many representatives signed this declaration?


Delegates sign Declaration of Independence. On this day in 1776, members of Congress affix their signatures to an enlarged copy of the Declaration of Independence. Fifty-six congressional delegates in total signed the document, including some who were not present at the vote approving the declaration.

What happened to Declaration of Independence signers?

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence? Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.

How big was John Hancock's signature?

If Hancock had wanted all 56 signatories to sign at maximum size and still have everyone fit, his signature and theirs should have been closer to 3.1 square inches in size. This is about half the size of Hancock's original, though it's larger than most of the signatures on the document.

What is a John Henry signature?

When someone asks for your John Hancock, it means they want your signature. When someone asks for your John Henry, it means they want your signature. The use of John Henry to refer to a signature became popular in the western United States, fifty years after John Hancock signed the Declaration of Independence.

What did John Hancock say after signing the declaration?


When he signed the Declaration of Independence, he did it with a bold hand, in a conspicuous manner, and rose from his seat, pointing to it, and exclaimed, “there, John Bull can read my name without spectacles, he may double his reward, and I put him at defiance.”

Where is the Declaration of Independence kept?

Located on the upper level of the National Archives museum, the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom is the permanent home of the original Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States, and Bill of Rights.

What did the Declaration of Independence do?

By issuing the Declaration of Independence, adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, the 13 American colonies severed their political connections to Great Britain. The Declaration summarized the colonists' motivations for seeking independence.

What does the Declaration of Independence say?


The people of America know that the Declaration of Independence is very important. It says that every person in this U.S has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It also says that the government has to listen to its own people. These things were what made America a free independent country.

How many states signed the Declaration of Independence?

United States Declaration of Independence
Ratified July 4, 1776
Location Engrossed copy: National Archives and Records Administration Rough draft: Library of Congress
Author(s) Thomas Jefferson et al.
Signatories 56 delegates to the Second Continental Congress

How did Hancock die?

Natural causes