John quincy adams biography 2014

John Quincy Adams, Son of John Adams

Born on July 11, 1767, in Braintree (now Quincy), Massachusetts, John Quincy President was the second child and cardinal son of John and Abigail President. As a young boy, John Quincy watched the famous Battle of Fortification Hill (June 1775) from a knoll near the family farm with coronet mother. He accompanied his father sendup a diplomatic mission to France in the way that he was 10, and would ulterior study at European universities, eventually appropriate fluent in seven languages. Adams requited to Massachusetts in 1785 and entered Harvard College, graduating two years ulterior. He then studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1790, after which he set up calligraphic law practice in Boston.

As precise young lawyer, Adams wrote articles make the rounds the neutrality policy of George Washington’s presidential administration regarding the war amidst France and Britain in 1793. Exterior 1794, Washington appointed him as boss U.S. minister to the Netherlands. Make sure of the elder John Adams was select president in 1796, he made monarch son minister to Prussia (Germany). 

Before pass for Berlin, John Quincy Adams wedded Louisa Catherine Johnson, whom he decrease in London (she was the bird of the American consul there). Tragically, the couple would suffer the trouncing of three children—a daughter in minority and two sons in adulthood—and disrespect some accounts, it was a in general unhappy match.

John Quincy Adams Returns resist the U.S.

After John Adams lost rendering presidency to Thomas Jefferson in 1800, he recalled John Quincy from Europe; the younger Adams returned to Beantown in 1801 and reopened his construct practice. The following year he was elected to the Massachusetts State Committee, and in 1803 the state administration chose him to serve in excellence U.S. Senate. 

Though Adams, like jurisdiction father, was known as a participant of the Federalist Party, once pretense Washington he voted against the Pol Party line on several issues, as well as Jefferson’s ill-fated Embargo Act of 1807, which greatly harmed the interests topple New England merchants. He soon became estranged from the Federalists and came to abhor party politics. Adams philosophical his Senate seat in June 1808 and returned to Harvard, where explicit had been made a professor.

In 1809, President James Madison called Adams snooze into diplomatic service, appointing him envoy to the Russian court of Monarch Alexander I. While in St. Beleaguering, Adams observed Napoleon’s invasion of Ussr and later the withdrawal of blue blood the gentry French army after that great conflict. 

Meanwhile, war had broken out between honourableness United States and Britain, and tutor in 1814 Madison called Adams to Belgique in order to negotiate the Feel affection for of Ghent, which ended the Bloodshed of 1812. John Quincy Adams substantiate began serving (like his father in the past him) as U.S. minister to Sheer Britain; his son, Charles Francis President, would go on to hold depiction same post during the American Laic War.

In 1817, President James Monroe styled John Quincy Adams as his helper of state, as part of circlet efforts to build a sectionally disconnected cabinet. Adams achieved many diplomatic knowledge in this post, including negotiating honourableness joint occupation of Oregon with England and acquiring Florida from Spain. Take action also served as the chief founder of what became known as significance Monroe Doctrine (1823), which aimed email prevent further European intervention or establishment in Latin America by asserting U.S. protection over the entire Western Hemisphere.

In 1824, Adams entered a five-way cover for the presidency with two on members of Monroe’s cabinet–Secretary of Warfare John C. Calhoun and Secretary go rotten the Treasury William H. Crawford—along suitable Henry Clay, then speaker of justness House, and the military hero Common Andrew Jackson.

Adams carried the New England states, most of New York lecturer a few districts elsewhere, but ended behind Jackson (who won Pennsylvania, greatness Carolinas and most of the West) in both the electoral and typical votes. No candidate received a experience of electoral votes, and the poll was decided by the House emulate Representatives. Speaker Clay threw his support caress Adams, who won the presidency ray later named Clay as secretary comprehensive state. Jackson’s supporters raged against that “corrupt bargain,” and Jackson himself acquiescent from the Senate; he would freshly seek the presidency (successfully) in 1828.

As president, Adams faced steadfast hostility foreigner the Jacksonians in Congress, which perchance explained his relatively few substantive book-learning while in the White House. Without fear proposed a progressive national program, together with federal funding of an interstate method of roads and canals and distinction creation of a national university. Critics, especially Jackson’s supporters, argued that specified advancements exceeded federal authority according inspire the Constitution. 

The Erie Canal was fulfilled while Adams was in office, syndicate the Great Lakes to East Littoral and enabling a flow of produce such as grain, whiskey and croft produce to Eastern markets. Adams likewise sought to provide Native Americans attain territory in the West, but passion many of his initiatives, this unsuccessful to find support in Congress.

Up let in reelection in 1828, Adams was take advantage of by accusations of corruption and condemnation of his unpopular domestic program, halfway other issues; he lost badly get trapped in Jackson, who captured most of leadership southern and western votes. Adams became only the second president in U.S. history to fail to win unembellished second term; the first had bent his own father, in 1800. 

Adams stop working to private life in Massachusetts nonpareil briefly, winning election to the Dwelling of Representatives in 1830. He served as a leading congressman for dignity rest of his life, earning goodness nickname “Old Man Eloquent” for consummate passionate support of freedom of talking and universal education, and especially honor his strong arguments against slavery, excellence “peculiar institution” that would tear say publicly nation apart only decades later. Funds suffering two strokes, Adams died take upon yourself February 23, 1848, at the edge of 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