Biography

John Adams was born on October 30, 1735 in Braintree, Massachusetts, United States. His nationality was American and his occupation was president, politician, and lawyer. John Adams was the first of three sons. Adams’s mother, Suzanne Boylston, came from a very respected family. Adams’s father, Deacon John Adams, was a farmer and a cordwainer (a person who makes leather goods). Deacon John served as a church deacon, town selectman and lieutenant in the local militia. John Adams was “short and stout with a ruddy complexion.” – James H. Hutson. Adams love for the outdoors led him to tell his father that he wanted to become a farmer. Adams’s parents had a different idea for their son’s future. They decided Adams should go to Harvard to study to become a clergyman. Upon entering Harvard, Adams was ranked 14th among the 28 students, he soon ranked among the top 3 in his class. John and Abigail met at her sister Mary’s wedding. Abigail was 15 and John was 27. John was “putt off by the Smith sisters’ reserved and somewhat aloof manner.” – UXL Biographies. Two years later John and Abigail met again, now he described her as “prudent, modest, delicate, soft, sensible, obliging, and active.” – Adams. In 1764 he married Abigail Smith, She “intelligent, vivacious, and warm.” – UXL Biographies. Abigail and John had six children, Abigail, who was born in 1765, John Quincy, who was born in 1767, Susanna, who was born in 1768 but died at the age of 13 months, Charles who was born in 1770, Thomas who was born in 1772, and the 6th child who was born in 1778, but was a stillborn. Abigail thought of John as her best friend, to John the relationship was equally satisfying and important. He relied heavily on Abigail’s advice, support, and companionship. His diary and personal letters showed his pleasant, affectionate and often playful nature. John and Abigail were married for 54 years. John died July 4, 1826 in Quincy, Massachusetts, United States. John was 91 years old when he died.
Citations-
- "Adams, John (1735-1826)." UXL Biographies. Gale, 2003. Web. 25.Feb. 2010.
- "Adams, Abigail (1744-1818)." UXL Biographies. Gale, 2003. Web. 25 Feb. 2010.
- Hutson, James H. “Adams, John” World Book Student. World Book, 2010. 25 Feb. 2010.
- "John Adams." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Gale, 1998. Web. 25 Feb. 2010.
- "John Adams." American Eras, Volume 3. Gale, 1998. Web. 24 Feb. 2010.
Picture Cite- "The Date in History: Inauguration Firsts." 2009. Web. 2 Mar. 2010.

1st Influence: President and Lawyer

John Adams influenced many people by being a lawyer and the nations 2nd president. After graduating from Harvard, John Adams began studying law under James Putnam. In 1758 Adams returned to his parent’s home in Boston and began to practice law. John soon became one of the most noted lawyers in Boston. In 1770, Adams sense of justice led him to defend Captain Thomas Preston and the British soldiers charged with manslaughter for killing five townspeople in the Boston Massacre. Adams felt that the soldiers should be freed, because the mob had provoked them to fire. Adams did what he thought was right and eventually won the case. In the presidential campaign of 1796, Thomas Jefferson was Adams’s chief rival. John was elected president, taking office in March, 1797. The French were deeply angered at America, over the signing of Jay’s Treaty. Adams sought peace and kept America out of war with France. As president he considered it catalo to remain independent of party politics and the other branches of government. That political independence allowed Adams to remain true to his principals and prevented war with France, but damaged his political career.
Citations-
- "Adams, John (1735-1826)." UXL Biographies. Gale, 2003. Web. 25.Feb. 2010.
- Hutson, James H. “Adams, John” World Book Student. World Book, 2010. 25 Feb. 2010.
- "John Adams." American Eras, Volume 4. Gale, 1998. Web. 24 Feb. 2010.
Picture Cite- "Contagious Love Experiment." 2009. Web. 2 Mar. 2010.

2nd Influence: a significant figure in our struggle for independence

John Adams influenced many people by being a significant figure in the struggle for American Independence. John Adams played a major role in the colonial movement toward independence. In 1774 Massachusetts called for representatives from each colony to meet in Philadelphia. Adams was 1 out of the 4 Massachusetts delegates at this meeting, later called the first continental congress. John Adams devoted himself entirely to the discussions that took place during the congress. In 1775, John Adams attended the 2nd continental congress. Adams argued that the colonies should be independent. He persuaded congress to organize the 16000 militiamen of New England as the continental army; he also brought about the appointment of George Washington as commander. John Adams also wrote the Massachusetts constitution in 1780. He also served as a diplomatic representative of congress in the 1780’s.

Congress chose John to be a member of the committee to prepare a declaration of Independence. John Adams defended the Declaration of Independence in a stormy debate that followed congress. In 1783, Adams was one of the negotiators who drew up the Treaty of Paris, which brought a victorious end to the Revolutionary War for the Americans. John Adams also served as the first U.S. minister to Britain from 1785 to 1788. Upon Adams return to America, Adams was chosen to serve as vice president under the country’s 1st president, George Washington. From 1789- 1797 John served in the Washington administration for 2 terms. I think that what made Adams want to focus on becoming president is the fact that Adams thought the position of vice president was “insignificant.”
Citations-
- "Adams, John (1735-1826)." UXL Biographies. Gale, 2003. Web. 25.Feb. 2010.
- Hutson, James H. “Adams, John” World Book Student. World Book, 2010. 25 Feb. 2010.
- "John Adams." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Gale, 1998. Web. 25 Feb. 2010.
Picture Cite- "Triumph of the Spirit." 2009. Web. 2 Mar. 2010.

Fun Facts!

Fun Facts

John Adams may have lived in the 1700’s – 1800’s, but there were a few interesting things about him.
- In 1755, John Adams graduated from Harvard; he was only 19 years old!
- When John Adams met Abigail Smith, his nickname for her was Miss Adorable.
- When Adams became vice president under George Washington, he later wrote that the vice presidency was “the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived.”-John Adams
- After becoming president on the evening of November 1, 1800, Adams was the first president to ever sleep in the White House.
- Thomas Jefferson and John Adams began sending letters to each other in 1813. This warm exchange lasted until both men died on July 4, 1826. This was very ironic considering the two men used to be chief rivals.
- John Adams’s last words were, “Thomas Jefferson survives” not knowing that Jefferson had died a few hours earlier that same day.
- John Adams died exactly 50 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Citations-
- "Adams, John (1735-1826)." UXL Biographies. Gale, 2003. Web. 25.Feb. 2010.
- Norton, Mary B. "Adams, Abigail and John." Biography.31. Gale, 2008. Web. 25 Feb. 2010.
- "Adams, John (1735-1826)." Presidential Administration Profiles for Students. Gale. Web.25 Feb. 2010.
- "Adams, Abigail (1744-1818)." UXL Biographies. Gale, 2003. Web. 25 Feb. 2010.
- Hutson, James H. “Adams, John” World Book Student. World Book, 2010. 25 Feb. 2010.

Picture Cite-"Life On Wicked Stage: Act 2." 2008. Web. 2 Mar. 2010.

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