John Adams, a name synonymous with the birth of the United States, embarked on his journey as the nation’s first Vice President on April 21, 1789. For twelve transformative years, the life of John and Abigail Adams mirrored the nascent federal government’s movements, from the bustling streets of New York City to Philadelphia and finally to the planned capital of Washington, D.C. This constant relocation in service to their country became a defining characteristic of the Adams family’s commitment to the fledgling nation.
Born on October 30, 1735, in Braintree, Massachusetts, John Adams spent his formative years immersed in the rhythms of family farm life. His early education began at a local day school, progressed to Latin school, and culminated in his enrollment at Harvard College at the age of fifteen. Initially considering a career in ministry, Adams ultimately gravitated towards law, a profession he pursued after a brief stint as a teacher. Establishing his legal practice marked a turning point, leading to his marriage to Abigail Smith in 1764. Their union spanned five decades, a period marked by raising four children, transatlantic travels, and a deeply influential intellectual partnership.
The year 1770 saw Adams rise to public prominence through his controversial yet principled defense of British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre. This act of courage and commitment to justice was followed by his representation of Massachusetts at the First Continental Congress in 1774. Quickly becoming a leading voice advocating for independence, John Adams nominated George Washington to command the Continental Army, a pivotal decision in the burgeoning revolution. In 1776, he played a crucial role on the committee responsible for drafting the Declaration of Independence, one of numerous committees – ninety in total – where he dedicated his efforts.
Adams’s service extended to the international stage in 1778 when Congress dispatched him to France and later the Netherlands, seeking vital support for the American Revolution. In The Hague, his diplomatic skills secured a critical loan and opened Dutch trade routes to the American colonies. Alongside Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and Henry Laurens, Adams was instrumental in negotiating the Treaty of Paris, the landmark agreement that officially ended the Revolutionary War and recognized American independence. During these demanding years abroad, Adams returned to Massachusetts only once for a brief period in 1779. Remarkably, during this short visit, he authored the Massachusetts state constitution, which stands today as the oldest constitution still in effect in the United States.
From 1781 to 1788, John Adams held various significant diplomatic positions, notably serving as the first United States Minister to Great Britain. His return to America led to his election as Vice President in 1789. The subsequent eight years in this role were characterized by a degree of political marginalization. As second-in-command to President George Washington, Adams found himself largely excluded from cabinet discussions. Even as President of the Senate, his contributions were often dismissed, leading senators to derisively nickname him “His Rotundity.”
Following Washington’s decision to retire in 1796, John Adams was elected as the second President of the United States. Throughout his public life, in every city where John and Abigail Adams resided, they established a formal household, extending hospitality to guests and employing staff to manage their homes. In contrast to Virginian presidents of the era, Adams did not engage in slave ownership. Instead, the Adamses employed both white and free African-American individuals for domestic service. However, indirect connections to slavery may have existed, as there is some historical indication that they might have hired enslaved African Americans, with wages paid to their owners, during their time in the Vice President’s and President’s House.
A key action early in Adams’ presidency was his attempt to maintain Washington’s cabinet. However, these secretaries were more aligned with Alexander Hamilton, working to undermine Adams’ foreign policy objectives and his 1800 reelection campaign. Adams’s presidency also faced turbulence due to the Alien and Sedition Acts, controversial laws that targeted immigrants and political opponents of his administration. Despite these challenges, a significant achievement of his presidency was averting war with France, a primary diplomatic goal. The Treaty of Mortefontaine, signed in 1800, though arriving too late to bolster his reelection bid, successfully ended the Quasi-War with France and established peaceful trade relations between the two nations.
After losing the 1800 election to Thomas Jefferson, John Adams retired to Peacefield, his estate in Quincy, Massachusetts. For the next quarter-century, he remained intellectually active, engaging in extensive correspondence with friends and family and serving as an elder statesman in the Boston area. A particular source of joy in his later years was witnessing his eldest son, John Quincy Adams, win the 1824 presidential election. On July 4, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, John Adams passed away. His family recounted that his last words were, “Thomas Jefferson survives.” Unbeknownst to Adams, Thomas Jefferson had died several hours prior, marking a symbolic and poignant end to an era defined by these two founding fathers.
