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Merchant and patriot, born in Braintree, Massachusetts, USA. He inherited his uncle’s merchant business (1764) and entered the patriot ranks (1765) in opposition to the Stamp Act. He engaged in smuggling, and one of his ships was seized in 1769.
He served as the president of the Massachusetts Provisional Congress (1774-5) and as president of the First and Second Continental Congresses (1775-7), and was the first member to sign the Declaration of Independence. Following his period in Congress (1775-80), he helped to frame the Massachusetts constitution and was elected as the first governor of that state (1780-5, 1787-93). He presided at the state convention which ratified the Constitution, and he died during his ninth term as governor.
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