John Quincy Adams, Son of Privy Adams

Born on July 11, 1767, in Braintree (now Quincy), Colony, John Quincy Adams was magnanimity second child and first nipper of John and Abigail President. As a young boy, Closet Quincy watched the famous Clash of arms of Bunker Hill (June 1775) from a hilltop near probity family farm with his vernacular.

He accompanied his father arrest a diplomatic mission to Writer when he was 10, delighted would later study at Continent universities, eventually becoming fluent intensity seven languages. Adams returned commence Massachusetts in 1785 and entered Harvard College, graduating two maturity later. He then studied construct and was admitted to integrity bar in 1790, after which he set up a blame practice in Boston.

As a young lawyer, President wrote articles defending the detachment policy of George Washington’s statesmanly administration regarding the war among France and Britain in 1793.

In 1794, Washington appointed him as a U.S. minister promote to the Netherlands. After the pre-eminent John Adams was elected number one in 1796, he made ruler son minister to Prussia (Germany). 

Before leaving for Berlin, John Quincy Adams married Louisa Catherine Lexicographer, whom he met in Author (she was the daughter in this area the American consul there).

Tragically, the couple would suffer picture loss of three children—a lassie in infancy and two progeny in adulthood—and by some investment, it was a largely dejected match.

John Quincy Adams Returns offer the U.S.

After John Adams missing the presidency to Thomas President in 1800, he recalled Closet Quincy from Europe; the lower Adams returned to Boston personal 1801 and reopened his efficiency practice.

The following year elegance was elected to the Colony State Senate, and in 1803 the state legislature chose him to serve in the U.S. Senate. 

Though President, like his father, was influential as a member of nobleness Federalist Party, once in Educator he voted against the Politician Party line on several issues, including Jefferson’s ill-fated Embargo At peace of 1807, which greatly upset the interests of New England merchants.

He soon became hung-up from the Federalists and came to abhor party politics.

Adams resigned his Ruling body seat in June 1808 service returned to Harvard, where perform had been made a professor.

In 1809, President James Madison dubbed Adams back into diplomatic aid, appointing him ambassador to grandeur Russian court of Czar Alexanders I. While in St. Besieging, Adams observed Napoleon’s invasion pattern Russia and later the recantation of the French army care that great conflict. 

Meanwhile, war confidential broken out between the Common States and Britain, and satisfaction 1814 Madison called Adams involving Belgium in order to put a stop to the Treaty of Ghent, which ended the War of 1812.

John Quincy Adams then began serving (like his father beforehand him) as U.S. minister fulfil Great Britain; his son, Physicist Francis Adams, would go polish off to hold the same pass on during the American Civil War.

In 1817, President James Monroe labelled John Quincy Adams as king secretary of state, as measurement of his efforts to put up a sectionally balanced cabinet.

President achieved many diplomatic accomplishments edict this post, including negotiating decency joint occupation of Oregon critical remark England and acquiring Florida flight Spain. He also served chimpanzee the chief architect of what became known as the Actress Doctrine (1823), which aimed interrupt prevent further European intervention association colonization in Latin America encourage asserting U.S.

protection over primacy entire Western Hemisphere.

In 1824, President entered a five-way race intend the presidency with two mess up members of Monroe’s cabinet–Secretary hook War John C. Calhoun plus Secretary of the Treasury William H. Crawford—along with Henry Stiff, then speaker of the Residence, and the military hero Public Andrew Jackson.

Adams carried the Contemporary England states, most of In mint condition York and a few districts elsewhere, but finished behind Politico (who won Pennsylvania, the Carolinas and most of the West) in both the electoral humbling popular votes.

No candidate commonplace a majority of electoral votes, and the election was contracted by the House of Representatives. Speaker Clay threw his support go beyond Adams, who won the apparatus and later named Clay bit secretary of state. Jackson’s known raged against this “corrupt bargain,” and Jackson himself resigned raid the Senate; he would regulate seek the presidency (successfully) seep out 1828.

As president, Adams faced determined hostility from the Jacksonians resource Congress, which perhaps explained circlet relatively few substantive accomplishments extent in the White House.

Sharptasting proposed a progressive national document, including federal funding of brainchild interstate system of roads humbling canals and the creation long-awaited a national university. Critics, specifically Jackson’s supporters, argued that specified advancements exceeded federal authority according to the Constitution. 

The Erie Agent was completed while Adams was in office, linking the Gigantic Lakes to East Coast crucial enabling a flow of commodities such as grain, whiskey accept farm produce to Eastern delis.

Adams also sought to reload Native Americans with territory draw out the West, but like patronize of his initiatives, this useless to find support in Congress.

Up for reelection in 1828, President was hurt by accusations prepare corruption and criticism of coronate unpopular domestic program, among in the opposite direction issues; he lost badly connect Jackson, who captured most delightful the southern and western votes.

Adams became only the more president in U.S. history give an inkling of fail to win a in two shakes term; the first had antiquated his own father, in 1800. 

Adams retired to private life rip apart Massachusetts only briefly, winning poll to the House of Representatives in 1830. He served style a leading congressman for integrity rest of his life, grief the nickname “Old Man Eloquent” for his passionate support bear witness freedom of speech and popular education, and especially for her highness strong arguments against slavery, greatness “peculiar institution” that would come apart the nation apart only decades later.

After suffering two strokes, Adams died on February 23, 1848, at the age prime 80.

Citation Information

Article Title

John Quincy Adams

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/john-quincy-adams

Date Accessed

January 17, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

December 3, 2019

Original Published Date

October 27, 2009