John Quincy Adams’s (JQA) diary, which was inspired by his father John Adams (JA) and started as a travel journal, initiated a lifelong writing obsession. In 1779, twelve-year-old JQA made his second trip abroad to accompany his father’s diplomatic mission. While in Europe, he attended various schools and traveled to St. Petersburg as an interpreter during Francis Dana’s mission to Russia. He subsequently served as JA’s secretary at Paris during the final months before the Anglo-American Definitive Peace Treaty was signed in September 1783. Two years later, JQA returned to the US. After graduating from Harvard College in 1787, he moved to Newburyport to read law under Theophilus Parsons and in 1790 he established a legal practice in Boston. JQA’s skill as a writer brought him public acclaim, and in 1794 President George Washington nominated him as US minister resident to the Netherlands.
John Quincy Adams (JQA) entered diplomatic service in September 1794 as US minister resident to the Netherlands. He married Louisa Catherine Johnson (LCA) in July 1797 after a fourteen-month engagement, and their three sons were born in this period. During his father John Adams’s (JA) presidency they moved to Berlin where, as US minister plenipotentiary, JQA signed a new Prussian-American Treaty of Amity and Commerce. JQA returned to the US in 1801 and entered politics, elected first to the Massachusetts senate in 1802 and then to the US Senate in 1803. His contentious relationship with fellow Federalist members over his support of some Democratic-Republican policies led to his removal from office. In May 1808 the Federalist-controlled Massachusetts legislature voted to replace him at the end of his term, prompting JQA’s resignation in June. Between 1806 and 1809 he also served as the first Boylston Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory at Harvard.
John Quincy Adams (JQA) returned to diplomatic service in August 1809 as the US’s first minister plenipotentiary to Russia. In St. Petersburg JQA was well-liked by Emperor Alexander I and closely followed the battles of the Napoleonic Wars then raging across Europe. When the US declared war on Great Britain in 1812, Adams watched from afar as the conflict dragged on for two years. In April 1814, he traveled to Ghent, Belgium, as part of the US delegation to negotiate an end to the war with England; the Treaty of Ghent was signed on Christmas Eve. Subsequently appointed US minister to the Court of St. James’s in May 1815, JQA served in London for the next two years.
John Quincy Adams (JQA) served as the US secretary of state during James Monroe’s presidency. Adams’s duties included organizing and responding to all State Department correspondence and negotiating agreements beneficial to the US. His achievements as secretary of state include the Anglo-American Convention of 1818, which established the US border with Canada along the 49th parallel, and the Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819 (Transcontinental Treaty), which resulted in the US acquisition of Florida. JQA also formulated the policy that became known as the Monroe Doctrine, in which the US called for European non-intervention in the western hemisphere, specifically in the affairs of newly independent Latin American nations. As Monroe’s presidency came to an end, JQA was among the top candidates in the 1824 presidential election. When no candidate earned the necessary majority, the House of Representatives decided the election in JQA’s favor in February 1825.
John Quincy Adams (JQA) was inaugurated as the sixth president of the US on 4 March 1825 and began his administration with an ambitious agenda of improvements for American society. His presidency was embattled. Supporters of Andrew Jackson, who believed their candidate had unfairly lost the 1824 election, worked ceaselessly to foil JQA’s plans. Domestically, JQA refused to replace civil servants with partisan supporters, and his administration became involved in disputes between the Creek Nation and the state of Georgia. JQA’s foreign policy also suffered, as partisan bickering in Congress failed to provide timely funding for US delegates to attend the 1826 Congress of Panama. Political mudslinging in advance of the 1828 presidential election was particularly fierce, and by mid-1827 JQA knew he would not be reelected.
In 1831 John Quincy Adams (JQA) became the only former president to subsequently serve in the US House of Representatives. As the chairman of the House Committee on Manufactures, he helped compose the compromise tariff bill of 1832. He traveled to Philadelphia as part of a committee that investigated the Bank of the United States, drafting a minority report in support of rechartering the bank after disagreeing with the committee’s majority report. JQA regularly presented the antislavery petitions he received from across the country, and he vehemently opposed the passage of the Gag Rule in 1836 that prevented House discussion of petitions related to slavery. He opposed the annexation of Texas, and in 1838 he delivered a marathon speech condemning the evils of slavery. JQA also chaired the committee that oversaw the bequest of James Smithson, which was used to establish the Smithsonian Institution.
During his final years of service in the US House of Representatives, John Quincy Adams (JQA) continued to oppose the Gag Rule that prevented House discussion of petitions related to slavery. In 1839 he joined the defense team for the Africans who revolted aboard the Spanish slave ship Amistad. The Supreme Court declared the Amistad Africans free on 9 March 1841 after JQA delivered oral arguments in their favor. In 1842 JQA faced a censure hearing and ably defended himself against charges from southern congressmen. He introduced a successful resolution that finally led to the repeal of the Gag Rule in 1844. JQA voted against both the annexation of Texas in 1845 and the US declaration of war with Mexico in 1846. He collapsed on the floor of the House on 21 February 1848 and died two days later.
rs: Adams, and one for
Catherine Johnson—
At Noon I went with the two Mr: Smith’s and Mr: Jones
to the Palace— While we were waiting in the Salle des Ambassadeurs,
untill the Mass should be finished, I was enquiring of M. de Maisonneuve respecting
the presentation of Mr: Jones to the
Grand Dukes, and
Grand Duchess Ann, after the
Circle, when I found that the Grand
Duchess Catherine would also receive presentations. I
therefore requested to be presented to her myself; and the same favour
for all the gentlemen of the legation excepting Mr: J. S. Smith, who declined— The Circle was held between one
and two O’Clock, and all the Imperial family excepting the Grand
Duchess-Catherine were present— Mr: Jones
was presented; as was a Count
Fagnani a Chamberlain of the Emperor Napoleon as king of
Italy— After the Circle we waited about three quarters of an hour untill
the Gentlemen, together with General
Watzdorf the Saxon Minister, and Count Lüxbourg as Bavarian Charge
des Affairs had been presented to the young Grand Dukes and the Grand
Duchess Ann; after which they returned, and we were all presented to the
Grand-Duchess Catherine, and her husband Prince George of Holstein Oldenburg, at their apartments—
General Watzdorf and myself were presented separately, and the rest of
the Gentlemen all together— The Grand-Duchess spoke of Mr: Smith and Mr: Poinsett; and asked
some questions about America; whether I had lately heard from there, and
how long it took for vessels to come— The Duke also who stood by her
side made some observation which I scarcely remember— She is about the
middle-size, with a beautiful countenance; expressive eyes, and a
fascinating smile— It was nearly four O’Clock, when we returned to from the Palace. And at half past-six
immediately after dinner we went there again— About seven we went in to
the Theatre at the Hermitage— The Emperor and imperial family came about 8. they sat in a
row of Chairs immediately behind the Orchestra. the French Ambassador sat in the
same line the last person at the right hand of the Emperor, 173and next to the Grand Duke
Michael— The Great Crown Officers and Ladies, with Count Stedingk, and Count St:
Julien sat in chairs behind them and on the lowest range
of benches forming the amphitheatre for the Spectators. For there are no
boxes—the Ministers of the Corps Diplomatique sat on the right hand
second row, and all the others were filled with the nobility of the
Country—the men on the left side, and the women on the right. The french
Opera of Cendrillon was performed for the first time— The music partly
of Nicolo the original composer;
and partly of Stey belt, set
here—the play is splendid—the music agreable, and the ballets as usual.
Duport danced very well— Two
of the songs were encored by a signal from the Grand Chambellan, by the
Emperor’s order— About 11. at Night the Opera was over, and we travelled
over the Palace to view from the Emperor’s Apartments the fireworks—
Those upon the Water did not well succeed; owing probably to the high
wind that blew— There was a blue palace of lamps beyond the river—very
well executed; and the bouquet or wheat-sheaf of rockets with which it
concluded was handsome— About half-past twelve at Night it was all
finished and we returned home— M. de Maisonneuve again repeated to me,
that the Emperor himself had written the name of Miss Johnson as one of
the persons to whom tickets for the Hermitage should be sent, and that
it was a very extraordinary mark of distinction. M. de Maisonneuve was
very attentive in accompanying the Ladies, after the Play, untill we
left the Palace to come home.