John Hancock ( January 12 , 1737 -- October 8 , 1793 ) was President of the Second Continental Congress and of the Congress of the Confederation ; first Governor of Massachusetts ; and the first person to sign the United States Declaration of Independence . John Hancock ( â `` October 8 , 1793 ) was a merchant , statesman , and prominent Patriot of the American Revolution . He served as president of the Second Continental Congress and was the first and third Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts .