Which patriot leader was president of the Second Continental Congress and the first to sign the Declaration of Independence?

• A. Bernardo de Galvez
• B. Thomas Jefferson
• C. John Hancock
• D. John Paul Jones

Answer: (C)

John Hancock holds this distinction because he served as president of the Second Continental Congress and was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence. As president, he led the Congress during the crucial moment when independence was being formalized, and his bold signature became a lasting symbol of commitment to the cause. The signer who wrote the Declaration’s words was the principal author, but Hancock’s leadership role in the Congress and his placing his signature first set him apart. The other figures mentioned played important roles in the broader Revolutionary era—Jefferson authored the Declaration, Galvez contributed as an ally, and Jones became a famed naval commander—but Hancock is the one who led the Congress and signed first.