Why was John Hancock the first to sign the Declaration of Independence?
What determined the order in which delegates signed the document?

John Hancock was the first to sign the Declaration bill because he was the president of the continental congress, and his signature was bigger and clearer than others because he wants the king to read without his spectacles.

Hancock was the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence and he signed his name bigger than other delegates so as to allow the old King to read it without his spectacles. As the president of the Continental Congress John Hancock was the first person to sign the document and every other delegates signatures followed.

it increase by 12% a year from 1812-1820