King Hancock: The Radical Influence of a Moderate Founding Father

Americans are more familiar with his signature than with the man himself. In this spirited account of John Hancock's life, Brooke Barbier depicts a patriot of fascinating contradictions-a child of enormous privilege who would nevertheless become a voice of the common folk; a pillar of society uncomfortable with radicalism who yet was crucial to independence.



Orphaned young, Hancock was raised by his merchant uncle, whose business and vast wealth he inherited-including household slaves, whom ...