John Hancock (Mass.) (January. 12,1737-October 8,1793)46 President of Continental Congress from 1775-1777. Son of a clergyman. Raised by his Uncle Thomas Hancock after his father's death. Graduated from Harvard in 1754 and joined his uncle in business. 1788 was the first governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1780-1785;1787-1793.He was a Congregationalist.