Thomas Hancock (merchant) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Hancock
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| Born | July 16, 1703 |
| Died | August 1, 1764 (aged 61) Boston, Province of Massachusetts Bay
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| Occupation | Merchant, politician |
| Spouse(s) | Lydia Henchman (m. 1730) |
| Parent(s) | John Hancock Sr. Elizabeth Clark |
| Relatives | John Hancock (nephew) |
Thomas Hancock (July 17, 1703 – August 1, 1764) was an important American businessman and politician. He is best known as the uncle of John Hancock, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. Thomas Hancock started with little and became one of the richest people in colonial Massachusetts. He built a huge fortune and owned his own successful trading company.
Born in Lexington, Thomas Hancock began working for a bookseller in Boston when he was 14. After his training, he opened his own bookstore. He later expanded into publishing. In 1730, he married Lydia Henchman, whose father was also a publisher.
After his marriage, Thomas Hancock partnered with a well-known Boston merchant. He soon became one of the city's top traders. His company, the House of Hancock, traded many different goods. They exported rum, whale oil, and fish. They also built ships and imported books and fancy items.
In 1752, Thomas Hancock joined politics, taking a seat on the Governor's Council. He died on August 1, 1764, after suffering a stroke. In his will, he left his business to his nephew John Hancock. His home, Hancock Manor, went to his wife, Lydia.
Contents
Who Was Thomas Hancock?
Thomas Hancock's Early Life and Family
Thomas Hancock was born on July 17, 1703, in Lexington. His father, John Hancock Sr., was a church leader who served as the town preacher for 55 years. Thomas's mother was Elizabeth Clarke.
In 1717, when Thomas was 14, he started working for a Boston bookseller named Samuel Gerrish. This was part of an apprenticeship, which meant he agreed to work for Gerrish until 1724 to learn the trade. After his training, Thomas Hancock opened his own bookstore in the North End of Boston. He also began publishing books. Boston was a major center for publishing in the Thirteen Colonies at this time.
In 1730, Thomas Hancock married Lydia Henchman. Lydia was the daughter of Daniel Henchman, a publisher and bookseller who was also Thomas's business partner. They worked together in paper production. Thomas had even worked as a clerk in Daniel's bookstore before. Around this time, Thomas Hancock also started building a large home, Hancock Manor, on Beacon Hill.
Building a Business Empire
How Thomas Hancock Became a Rich Merchant
After marrying Lydia, Thomas Hancock teamed up with Charles Apthorp, another important Boston merchant. Thomas quickly grew his business beyond just books. His company, the House of Hancock, traded goods all over the British Empire. They sent rum, whale oil, and fish to Europe and the West Indies. They also built ships and brought in European books and luxury goods to Massachusetts.
During the French and Indian Wars, Thomas Hancock made a lot of money. He supplied the British Army and Royal Navy troops stationed in the West Indies and North America. Even with all his wealth, Thomas Hancock did not seek political office for a long time. However, he stayed in touch with important politicians in America and England.
John Hancock Joins the Family Business
In 1744, Thomas Hancock's brother, John, passed away. Thomas and Lydia then took in their nephew, also named John. Thomas and Lydia did not have their own children, so they focused on young John. He became a very important part of their lives. After finishing Harvard College in 1754, John Hancock began working for his uncle at the House of Hancock. He learned a lot about the business and was prepared to become a partner.
In 1755, ships owned by Thomas Hancock and Apthorp helped move Acadians from Nova Scotia to French Louisiana. This was part of their forced removal by the British. The conditions on these ships were very bad.
Thomas Hancock also added to his wealth by trading goods without paying taxes, a practice known as smuggling. He brought in items like tea, paper, and sailcloth from the Dutch Republic. He also smuggled molasses from the West Indies into New England. Many people in British America saw smuggling as a minor offense. This helped smugglers get support from their communities. John Hancock later continued his uncle's smuggling activities, which played a role in the American Revolution.
Later Years and Legacy
Thomas Hancock's Political Role and Final Years
In 1752, Thomas Hancock officially entered Massachusetts politics. He took a seat on the Governor's Council. When his business partner Apthorp died in 1758, Thomas Hancock took full control of his assets. This made him even wealthier. His wealth grew further when Daniel Henchman, his father-in-law, died in 1761.
In his later years, Thomas Hancock began to have health problems. He started giving more control of his business to his nephew, John. Thomas Hancock had built a fortune of about 70,000 pounds. This made him one of the richest and most famous people in Boston and the New England Colonies.
In 1764, the Parliament of Great Britain passed the Sugar Act. This law aimed to raise taxes from the American colonies. Thomas Hancock was very upset by this act. He felt it was unfair to American businesses.
On August 1, 1764, Thomas Hancock suffered a stroke and died the same day. In his will, he left all the properties of the House of Hancock to John Hancock. His home, Hancock Manor, went to his wife, Lydia. These inheritances included thousands of acres of land. This quickly made John Hancock one of the wealthiest men in the Thirteen Colonies.
The Hancock Legacy Continues
After Thomas Hancock died, John Hancock gradually became less involved in the daily running of the House of Hancock. He focused more on politics. By 1771, John Hancock and Lydia were very rich. When Lydia died in 1771, she left Hancock Manor to John Hancock, as she had no children.
John Hancock became a key leader in the American resistance against British policies. He used much of the fortune he inherited to support the fight for American independence.
The mansion Thomas Hancock built was later occupied by British General Sir Henry Clinton during the American Revolutionary War. However, the house was mostly unharmed. John Hancock moved back in after the British left and used it to host many important guests.
Hancock Manor remained John Hancock's home until he died in 1793. The city of Boston later bought most of his estate, including the mansion. The mansion stood until 1916, when it was torn down for a new building. This caused a public outcry and led to a movement to protect other historic buildings in Boston.
Images for kids
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A portrait of Lydia Hancock by John Singleton Copley
