JOHN HANCOCK FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.


                                                                    Exhibit 23.1

                         Consent of Independent Auditors

      We consent to the incorporation by reference in the documents listed below
of our report dated February 25, 2004 with respect to the consolidated financial
statements and schedules of John Hancock Financial Services, Inc. included in
the Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2003:

      o     Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-30782) pertaining to The
            Investment-Incentive Plan for John Hancock Employees and The John
            Hancock Savings and Investment Plan of John Hancock Financial
            Services, Inc.;,

      o     Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-30718) pertaining to the
            John Hancock Financial Services, Inc. Long-Term Stock Incentive
            Plan;,

      o     Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-52034) pertaining to The
            Investment Incentive Plan for the Employees of the John Hancock
            Funds Companies;.

      o     Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-55064) pertaining to the
            Incentive Compensation Plan for Employees, Long-Term Incentive Plan
            for Senior Executives and Deferred Compensation Plan for Executives
            of John Hancock Financial Services, Inc.;,

      o     Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-61206) pertaining to the
            1999 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan and the Non-Employee Directors'
            Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan of John Hancock Financial Services,
            Inc.;,

      o     Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-62668) of John Hancock
            Financial Services, Inc. and the related Prospectus pertaining to
            the registration of up to $1,000,000,000 of its debt securities,
            preferred stock, common stock, warrants, stock purchase contracts
            and stock purchase units;, and

      o     Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-102743) of John Hancock
            Financial Services, Inc. and the related Prospectus Supplement
            pertaining to the registration of guarantees relating to market
            value adjustment interests under deferred annuity contracts; and

      o     Registration Statement (Form F-4 No. 333-110281) of Manulife
            Financial Corporation pertaining to the registration of 370,376,065
            shares of Manulife common stock in connection with the pending
            merger between Manulife Financial Corporation and John Hancock
            Financial Services, Inc.

                                             /S/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Boston, Massachusetts
March 12, 2004