USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -The first and largest signature was that of the president of the Congress, John Hancock of Massachusetts.

Detailed explanation-2: -The engrosser of the Declaration was probably Timothy Matlock, an assistant to Charles Thomson, secretary to the Congress. On August 2nd John Hancock, the President of the Congress, signed the engrossed copy with a bold signature.

Detailed explanation-3: -The actual signing finally took place on August 2, 1776. As President of the Second Continental Congress, John Hancock was the first to sign this historic document. He used large bold script and signed under the text in the center of the page.

Detailed explanation-4: -On May 24, 1775, Hancock was named as the presiding officer over the Second Continental Congress, which was meeting in Philadelphia to discuss the military threat posed by the British. A little more than a year later, Hancock was the first to sign the document declaring independence.

Detailed explanation-5: -John Hancock is perhaps best known for his signature on the Declaration of Independence. Examine this 19th-century painting, from the Mount Vernon collections, that depicts Thomas Jefferson handing a draft of the Declaration to Hancock, who was then president of Congress.