The Biography of John Quincy Adams

Early Life and Education

John Quincy Adams was born in Braintree, Massachusetts, which is now known as Quincy, on July 11, 1767. He was the son of John and Abigail Adams. His father was the second president of the United States, serving from 1797 to 1801. Adams admired his father greatly. In fact, much of his youth was spent accompanying his father overseas. He followed his father on diplomatic missions to France and the Netherlands. Adams earned his education at Leiden University. Remarkably, when Adams was only fourteen years old, he went on a mission with Francis Dana to Saint Petersburg, Russia, to understand more about the new United States. This exposure to international politics at such a young age was formative for him. He spent time in many places overseas, such as Finland, Sweden, and Denmark in 1804. Throughout his travels, John became a fluent speaker in French and Dutch and learned a little German and other European languages. Although Adams was enjoying Europe, his parents made him return to the United States to finish his education and start his career in politics. He enrolled in Harvard College and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He also acquired a Master of Arts degree in 1790. In 1791, he was admitted to the Massachusetts bar and began practicing law in Boston.

Political Career

John Quincy Adams was an American politician who served as a diplomat and treaty negotiator. In 1802, Adams was elected as a member of the Massachusetts State Senate. After only serving a year, he was elected as a representative of the United States Senate. His political career was marked by his commitment to public service and national improvement. In 1824, John Quincy Adams was elected the sixth president of the United States after a close and questionable four-way contest. He was determined to enhance the American economy and improve education, even managing to pay off much of the national debt. Adams initially followed in his father’s footsteps by being a member of the Federalists. However, he eventually switched to the Jeffersonian-Democratic-Republican, National Republican, and the Anti-Masonic and Whig parties as they emerged. Adams achieved many noteworthy accomplishments as president; however, he lost his bid for re-election in 1828 to Andrew Jackson. Undeterred, Adams was elected back as a U.S. Representative in 1830 and served in this role for the rest of his life.

Legacy and Death

Many people admired John Quincy Adams for his dedication and contributions to the country. Samuel Flagg Bemis argued that Adams was able to “gather together, formulate, and practice the fundamentals of American foreign-policy—self-determination, independence, noncolonization, nonintervention, nonentanglement in European politics, Freedom of the Seas, and freedom of the commerce” (Bemis, 1949, p. 57). Historians often regard him as an above-average president. At the age of 78, Adams suffered a stroke that left him partially paralyzed. During a meeting at the House of Representatives, he was asked to rise and answer a question. When he rose, he collapsed and suffered a cerebral hemorrhage. He passed away two days later on February 23, 1848.

References

• Bemis, S. F. (1949). John Quincy Adams and the Foundations of American Foreign Policy. Alfred A. Knopf.