great lives lecture series

John Hancock

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Lecture Date: March 17, 2026

The Roxanne M. Kaufman Lecture

Americans are surprisingly more familiar with John Hancock’s famous signature than with the man himself. In King Hancock: The Radical Influence of a Moderate Founding Father, Brooke Barbier depicts a patriot of fascinating contradictions―a child of enormous privilege who would nevertheless become a voice of the common folk, and a pillar of society uncomfortable with radicalism who yet was crucial to independence. About two-fifths of the American population held neutral or ambivalent views about the Revolution; Hancock spoke for them and to them, bringing them along.

Speaker: Brooke Barbier

Brooke Barbier is a public historian who received her PhD in American history from Boston College. In addition to the award-winning King Hancock, she is the author of Boston in the American Revolution: A Town Versus an Empire. In 2013, Barbier founded Ye Olde Tavern Tours, a popular outing on Boston’s Freedom Trail that takes guests into historic sites and taverns to learn about the city’s storied past. Her next book, Cocked and Boozy: An Intoxicating History of the American Revolution (June 2026), examines the influence of alcohol on the American Revolution.

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This compelling lecture series offers insight into a wide and diverse range of figures of historical and cultural significance. These presentations are delivered by eminent authorities from throughout this country — and abroad. Thanks to a substantial initial endowment and continuing annual support from John Chappell, the program is open to the public free of charge and no admission tickets are required. Public support — via attendance, donations, and ideas about future lecture topics — is vital to the continuation of this program.

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When the University of Mary Washington is closed due to inclement weather the Great Lives Lecture is cancelled for that evening. To check for cancellations due to inclement weather, visit the Campus Advisories page, or the UMW Information Line at 540-654-2424.