The Steel Driver and the Governor

If I get asked one more time for my ‘John Henry’ when somebody needs my signature, I am going to scream.

In the interest of clarity, and and the preservation of culture, here’s a little help.

John Henry was a steel driver for a railroad. He was the strongest man alive. He beat a steam hammer in a contest of strength and productivity, though it ultimately killed him. He is a hero of folklore. He’s easy to remember because he’s a huge guy with a big sledgehammer.

So remember: John Henry = Sledgehammer.

What I —and I suspect, you—, are really being asked for is your ‘John Hancock’.

John Hancock was a trader in the American Colonies and was the first signer of the Declaration of Independence. Which he signed in a huge flourish and, according to legend, quipped that he wanted to be sure that King George III could read it without his spectacles. Ultimately he was elected Governor of Massachusetts. Although he was a real guy —and for those of you who might care, an American— he’s easy to remember because he’s an average sized guy with a really big signature.

Because John Hancock did this, his name became eponymous with ‘signature’. Or to state it correspondingly: John Hancock = Signature.

Now I understand that if you’re not an American (I am a Canadian, but have the advantage of American heritage), you may not be aware of this subtle distinction. I do hope that you find this useful. In order to help you in an awkward circumstance like a banker asking you to sign for a car loan with your ‘John Henry’, please download this wallet sized information graphic to which you might refer. Or better still, print more than one and graciously share.

Battle of the Giants Infographic

John Henry
US Postage Stamp
Folk Heroes: John Henry
Oil on canvas
Artist: David LaFleur
Art director: Richard Sheaff
First day of issue: July 11, 1996
To illustrate the story of one of America’s mightiest folk heroes, David LaFleur evoked a world of bold angles and iconic imagery. LaFleur’s heroic, monumental style is rooted in murals and posters commissioned by the Works Progress Association during the 1930s.
www.postalmueum.si.edu

Sledgehammer from istockphoto.com

John Hancock
Oil on canvas
Artist John Singleton Copely, 1765
Via wikipedia.org