Carla Brumett, age 16, of Lynn, Mass., for her question:

WHO WAS FIRST TO SIGN THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE?

Have you eve: heard someone use the expression "Put your John Hancock here," when he wanted you to sign a document? What he was really saying is "Please sign your name here." The dictionary also tells you that "John Hancock" is an informal way of saying "signature."

John Hancock in history was the colonial patriot from Massachusetts who was the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence. He signed with bold, neat, large letters. And as he signed he said: "I write so that George III may read without his spectacles."

Hancock was a member of the Massachusetts legislature from 1766 to 1772 after graduation from Harvard College. After the Boston Massacre in 1770, he was the chairman of a committee that worked to oust British troops.

Hancock was president of the Continental Congress in 1775. In 1778 he led troops in action in Rhode Island. In 1780 he was elected first governor of Massachusetts.