Address of the Corporation to Gov. Hancock, [1781 January 1] Digital

Address of the Harvard Corporation to John Hancock congratulating him on his election as governor of Massachusetts. Hancock was elected in September 1780 and in a speech on October 31 before both houses of the Massachusetts state government he noted, “The public schools, and our university at Cambridge, very early founded by them, have been no small support to the cause of liberty, and given no dishonourable distinction to our country; the advantage they are still capable of affording to the present and future generations are unspeakable; I cannot, therefore, omit warmly to commend them to your care and patronage.” Harvard’s address, presented to Hancock on January 1, 1781, was printed in local newspapers with Hancock’s reply that promised, “It will be among my highest Pleasures to contribute all in my Power to advance its [Harvard’s] Prosperity, and the noble and generous Purposes for which it was founded by our revered Ancestors.”