John Quincy Adams

John Quincy Adams; Sixth President of the United States
Born	July 11, 1767
Died	February 23, 1848
Term	1825-1829

John Quincy Adams was the 6th President of the United States of America. He served one term as President (1825–1829) and then returned to Congress where he spent the remainder of his political career pursuing abolitionist motives. He was the son of President John Adams and Abigail Adams. After graduating from Harvard College, he became a lawyer. At 26 he was appointed Minister to the Netherlands by President George Washington, then promoted to the Berlin Legation. In 1802 Adams was elected to the US Senate and 6 years later President Madison appointed him the first U.S. Minister of Russia. John Quincy Adams served as one of the great Secretaries of State under President James Monroe,arranging with England for the joint occupation of the Oregon Country, obtaining from Spain the cessation of the Floridas, and helping to formulate the Monroe Doctrine. He died in Washington D.C. February 23, 1848.

Early Life

He was born in Braintree, Massachusetts (which would later be renamed Quincy) on July 11, 1767 to John and Abigal Adams. He was encouraged by his parents to study hard and cultivate his mind. He was tutored by his father's law clerks. As the American Revolutionary War broke out many refugees ,from areas of the battles, stayed at the Adams household. When his father was sent as an ambassador to France by the Continental Congress, John Quincy went with him. They arrived in March, 1779. He would remain in Europe for the next nine years. While in France he studied at the Passy Academy. Later John Adams sent his son to the Dutch University of Leiden. He was able to study there for two years and learn both Latin and Greek. When American Diplomat, Francis Dana, looked for a interpreter to travel with him to Russia, John Quincy volunteered. They remained in Russia for a year, John Quincy studied hard in St.Petersburg, until Dana left. Dana had never been received by the Russian nobility. He returned to his father in Hague, Holland. John Quincy assisted John Adams, as a secretary, while his father served as an ambassador to the many European nations. He returned to America and attended Harvard College, at which he graduated in July 1787. He then learned law while serving as a clerk in Newport, Massachusetts. After Thomas Paine published a pamphlet criticizing President Washington's policies and Federal Powers, John Quincy wrote a series of articles called Publicola, defending the President. He worked in law for two years until appointed by Washington as U.S. minister to Holland.

Public Service

He eventually arrived in Holland as ambassador during a time of war. The French had invaded Holland and for a time was in great danger of being exterminated. Fortunately, the French were defeated by the Dutch armies. He returned to America to wait for a new government to be established in Holland. While at home he was engaged to a Miss Louisa Catherine Johnson. They were eventually married on July 26, 1797. He continued his work as diplomat to Holland, until he was chosen as the minister to Portugal. Before he could leave his father, John Adams, became President of the United States. John Adams chose his son, instead of going to Portugal, to go to Prussia. He kept the post successfully for the next four years. His father though was a very unpopular President and lost the 1800 election to Thomas Jefferson. Because of this John Quincy returned home to his family with his wife and son, George. He was later elected to the U.S. Senate representing Massachusetts in 1803. Although supported by Federalists, he was not a typical Federalist. One way in which he angered the Federalists was by supporting Thomas Jefferson's purchase of the Louisiana territory. He also supported Jefferson's demand for a British Trade Embargo, because off firing on the American Frigate, the Chesapeake. For angering his former allies in the Massachusetts Legislature, he was removed from office in 1808. In 1809 the new President, James Madison appointed Adams the diplomat to Russia. He remained there when Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Russia unsuccessfully. He was a greatly successful diplomat. Adams also helped the U.S. and Great Britain to reach and sign the Treaty of Ghent. He served after this as the Ambassador to Great Britain. After that from 1817 to 1825 Adams served as the Secretary of State under James Monroe. During his time in Monroe's cabinet, Adams helped Monroe to formulate the famous Monroe Doctrine.

Election to the Presidency

As the 1824 Presidential race drew near people began looking for candidates. New England voters admired Adams' patriotism and political skills and it was mainly due to their support that he entered the race. Several candidates opposed him such as John C. Calhoun, William Crawford, Henry Clay and the hero of New Orleans, Andrew Jackson. During the campaign Calhoun dropped out, and Crawford fell ill giving further support to the other candidates. When the election day came, Andrew Jackson won, narrowly, the Popular and Electoral vote. However, because no candidate received a clear majority, a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives was necessary. Thanks to the support of Henry Clay, who realized he couldn't win the election, Adams held the majority of 13 states.

Presidency

Once in office Adams aroused suspicion by appointing Henry Clay, the Secretary of State, but Adams defended his belief that Clay was the man for the job. One of his priorities while being the President was supporting many public projects such as military academies, universities, canals, and astronomical observation towers. Often he had difficulty convincing Congress to enact these kind of work projects. Adams was President when the 50th Independence day happened, on which both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died ironically. The Presidency also saw the return of the elderly Marquis de Lafayette to America. John Quincy Adams' term in office was one of progression and industry, but for Adams himself one of discouragement and unpopularity, which followed Adams all the way to the end of his term.

Miscellaneous Facts

• The French aristocrat and American hero, the Marquis de Lafayette, gave John Quincy Adams an alligator as a pet. Adams kept it in a bathroom in the White House until he left office in 1829.

• Adams was also responsible for the first installation in the White House of a pool table. Among his more unusual hobbies, he regularly went skinny dipping in the Potomac river. The first American female professional journalist, Anne Royall, knew of Adams' habit of taking nude swims at 5 a.m. She had frequently asked for interviews with him and been refused, so she went to the river and sat on his clothes until he answered her questions, becoming the first woman to interview a president.

• Adams was the first president to have his photo taken (April 13, 1843). [1]

• His wife was the only foreign First Lady America has ever had and kept silk worms in order to have gowns made from their products.

• He is one of the two Presidents to have had his father previously elected President. The only other instance is George W. Bush.

• He is the only President to enter Congress after being President.