Why did John Hancock affix that Garishly large signature to the Declaration of Independence?

Answer 1

He wrote his signature so large so that the King of England would not need to put on his reading glasses to see his signature. To him it made his signing of the Declaration of Independence and him being a patriot that more defiant.

Answer 2

He did this because it was the most important signature to write in his own life in which he wanted to be noticed. He got what he asked for, thus the saying "put your John Hancock here." Have a nice day.

Answer 3

Because the King of England had poor eyesight and John Hancock wanted to be sure that the king saw his signature. Sort of like a rebelling thing I guess, like when someone spray paints their name to a bridge??

Answer 4

Rumor has it that he was a bit of an egotist. Historians will say it is because he wanted to be certain the British would see his signature big and bold, so there was no doubt that he signed it.

Answer 5

It was bigger and more flamboyant with loops and swirls...Not super huge.
The firstPeope who signed it were afraid that they would be hung for treason....so they signed in miniture print. Hancock said.....Give me the pen andLet those british bastereds see how a true son of liberity signs his name

Answer 6

The reason I heard is that he wanted it very visible for the King of England to see that he was very bold and defiant about it.

Answer 7

Because John, not the king, had bad eyes.

Answer 8

On signing the Declaration he commented, "The British ministry can read that name without spectacles; let them double their reward."
Source:http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/hancock.htm

Answer 9

perhaps out of pride?

by signing the declaration he was tearing away from the tyrannical britain...I'd sign large too if i fully believed in what i was doing

Answer 10

that was his standard signature. its a myth that he wanted King Geo to read it without his glasses