Early life and education

John Quincy Adams was born on July 11, 1767, in Braintree (now Quincy), Massachusetts. He grew up during the American Revolution. During this period his father supported independence as a member of the Continental Congress and served as a diplomat. His mother, Abigail Smith Adams, also was a patriot.

John Quincy went to Europe with his father in 1778 and again in 1780. He studied in Paris and in The Netherlands, mastering the French language and learning some Dutch. In 1785 he returned to Massachusetts and entered Harvard College. After graduating in 1787, he studied law for three years and then became a lawyer in Boston.

Early career

Adams had few clients in his early days as a lawyer. He occupied his time writing political articles for Boston newspapers. The articles gained the attention of President George Washington. In 1794 Washington made Adams the United States minister to The Netherlands. Adams was only 27 years old. Two years later John Adams was elected president. In 1797 Adams became his father's ambassador to Prussia.

Marriage and family

Adams married Louisa Catherine Johnson in London on July 26, 1797. The couple had four children, a daughter and three sons. Their daughter died in infancy and their first two sons died in early adulthood. Their third son, Charles Francis Adams, became a diplomat and member of the House of Representatives.

Early political career

Adams returned to Boston in 1801. The next year he was elected to the Massachusetts State Senate. In 1803 he became a member of the United States Senate. After five years he resigned from the Senate and went home to practice law.

In 1809 President James Madison appointed Adams minister to Russia. In 1815 Adams became minister to Great Britain. He returned to the United States in 1817 and became secretary of state under President James Monroe. In this role Adams played a leading part in persuading Spain to give control of Florida to the United States. He also helped write the Monroe Doctrine, an important document that warned European nations not to extend their power in the Western Hemisphere.

Presidency

In 1824 Adams was one of four candidates for the presidency. The others were Andrew Jackson, W.H. Crawford, and Henry Clay. Jackson received the most electoral votes, followed by Adams. Jackson did not have enough votes to win the presidency outright, however. The election was turned over to the House of Representatives, which chose Adams. He took office in 1825.

The country prospered during Adams' presidency. Nevertheless, his term is generally considered a political failure. Among other proposals, he favored creating a national university and greatly expanding the country's roads with federal aid. However, Jackson's supporters in Congress blocked most of Adams' bills. As a result, few positive measures were enacted during Adams' administration. In the election of 1828 Adams lost to Jackson, who had 178 electoral votes to Adams' 83.

Second career in congress

Adams retired in 1829, but his retirement was brief. In 1831 he was elected to represent Massachusetts in the House of Representatives. Adams said that no one should be ashamed to serve in the House of Representatives, even a former president. He held his seat until his death.

As a member of Congress, Adams became known for his opposition to the expansion of slavery. The Southerners in the House placed a “gag rule” on petitions relating to slavery so that the issue could not be discussed. Adams fought the gag rule until its repeal in 1844. He also helped start the Smithsonian Institution. Adams was called Old Man Eloquent because of the vast amount of information in his speeches.

Adams suffered a stroke in 1847 in Boston. A year later he had another stroke, this time while speaking in the House of Representatives. He died in the Capitol two days later, on February 23, 1848.