John Hancock was unanimously elected President of the Second Continental Congress on May 24, 1775, amid growing tensions between the thirteen American colonies and the British Crown. Hancock’s leadership came at a crucial time, as the Congress grappled with the onset of the American Revolutionary War following battles at Lexington and Concord. Known for his bold signature on the Declaration of Independence, Hancock’s presidency helped to steer the early legislative and diplomatic efforts crucial to the colonies’ fight for independence.
