Why was Thomas Gage hunting john Hancock and Samuel Adams?

Thomas Gage, the British military governor of Massachusetts, sought to apprehend John Hancock and Samuel Adams because they were prominent leaders of the colonial resistance against British rule. Both men were pivotal figures in organizing opposition to British policies, including the Boston Tea Party and the formation of the Continental Congress. Gage aimed to arrest them to quell the growing insurrection and restore order, as tensions between the colonies and Britain were escalating toward open conflict. Their capture was part of a broader effort to suppress revolutionary activities in the lead-up to the American Revolution.