Hancock was born on Febuary 14, 1824 in Montgomery Square, PA.
He graduated from West Point in 1844. Before the Civil War he served in frontier duty, the Mexican War, the Kansas War, the Utah expedition and quartermaster service. Before the war he was best friends with fellow armyman Lewis A. Armistead, who joined the Confederate Army when the war broke out.
In September of 1861 Hancock was appointed Brig. Gen. of Volunteers. He commanded the VI Corps at Antietam. In November 1862 he was promoted to Major General of Volunteers. He also fought at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, The Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg. In August 1864 he was promoted to Brigider General in the Regular Army and was put in command of the Department of West Virginia.
After the War Hancock did some more army service and ran usucessfuly for president in 1880. He died on Febuary 9, 1886 in New York.
