“Nor was John Hancock. But he was a rich guy who stood up and stood as an example.”
From what I’ve read, he practically financed half of the Revolution. And, like Musk, he came late to the party; it took him a while to be convinced what was the right thing to do.
I’m not expert, but I think he was always involved. Funded Sam Adams and Paul Revere. But, yes, very much a bit of a spoiled rich guy. Richest in the colonies, by most accounts. A bit of a fop.
But when the Declaration of Independence was ready to be signed, no one would get up and sign it first.
So he got up, called everyone a few choice words, and put his name smack in the middle, guilting everyone else into action,