I, John Hancock emerged as a leading figure in the revolutionary movement and in 1774 was chosen president of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress. The next year I became leader of the Boston patriot Committee. That year he also became an ally of John Adams. The big oratory of Adams and I brought the attention to the British officials about us in 1775. Warned by Paul Revere, we fled Lexington just as the battles of Lexington and Concord opened the Revolutionary War.