John Adams’s tenure as the first Vice President of the United States, beginning on April 21, 1789, marked a significant chapter in the formative years of American governance. For twelve years, Adams and his wife Abigail diligently followed the movements of the nascent federal government, from New York City to Philadelphia, and finally to the burgeoning capital of Washington, D.C. This constant relocation, driven by his commitment to national service, became a defining characteristic of the Adamses’ lives.
Born in Braintree, Massachusetts, on October 30, 1735, John Adams’s early life was rooted in the agrarian landscape of his family farm. His education progressed through a day school, Latin school, and ultimately Harvard College at the age of fifteen. Initially considering a career in ministry, Adams shifted paths, dedicating himself to teaching before pursuing the legal profession. Establishing his law practice paved the way for his marriage to Abigail Smith in 1764, initiating a fifty-year partnership that encompassed raising four children, transatlantic voyages, and a shared dedication to public service.
Adams rose to prominence in October 1770 through his courageous defense of British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre. By 1774, he was representing Massachusetts at the First Continental Congress, quickly becoming a leading voice for independence. He championed George Washington’s appointment as commander of the Continental Army and contributed to the drafting of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, among his extensive service on ninety congressional committees.
Alt text: Portrait of John Adams, the first Vice President of the United States, painted by John Trumbull, showcasing his formal attire and dignified appearance during his political career.
From 1778, Adams served as a diplomat in France and the Netherlands, securing crucial financial support for the American Revolution and establishing trade relations. During his time at The Hague, he negotiated a vital loan and opened Dutch ports to American commerce. He also played a key role in negotiating the Treaty of Paris alongside Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and Henry Laurens, which formally ended the Revolutionary War and recognized American independence. Despite these significant diplomatic endeavors, Adams managed a brief return to Massachusetts in 1779, during which he authored the Massachusetts Constitution, the oldest constitution still in effect in the United States.
Between 1781 and 1788, Adams held various diplomatic positions, including becoming the first U.S. Minister to Great Britain. His election as Vice President in 1789 ushered in a period of eight years largely spent in the shadow of George Washington’s presidency. As Washington’s second-in-command, Adams found himself often excluded from cabinet meetings and substantive policy discussions. Despite presiding over the Senate, his contributions were frequently dismissed, leading senators to derisively nickname him “His Rotundity.” This experience as Vice President highlighted the often-understated and sometimes frustrating nature of the office in its early years.
Upon Washington’s retirement in 1796, John Adams was elected as the second President of the United States. Throughout his public life, in every city where he and Abigail resided, they established a formal household, receiving guests and employing staff, including both white individuals and free African Americans, to manage their residences. Notably, unlike many prominent Virginians of the era, Adams did not own enslaved people. However, while morally and politically opposed to slavery, the Adamses may have participated in the practice of hiring enslaved African Americans, compensating their owners for their labor in both the Vice President’s and President’s House.
A primary action early in Adams’s presidency was his attempt to maintain Washington’s cabinet. However, these secretaries, loyal to Alexander Hamilton, often undermined Adams’s foreign policy objectives and his 1800 reelection campaign. His presidency was further complicated by the Alien and Sedition Acts, controversial laws targeting immigrants and political opponents. Despite these challenges, Adams prioritized avoiding war with France. The Treaty of Mortefontaine in 1800 successfully ended the Quasi-War with France and established peaceful trade relations, although it was signed too late to positively impact his reelection bid.
Following his defeat by Thomas Jefferson in the 1800 election, Adams retired to Peacefield, his home in Quincy, Massachusetts. For the subsequent twenty-five years, he maintained active correspondence with family and friends, served as an elder statesman in the Boston area, and celebrated his son John Quincy Adams’s presidential victory in 1824. John Adams passed away on July 4, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. His reported final words, “Thomas Jefferson survives,” poignantly revealed his enduring connection to his fellow Founding Father, unaware that Jefferson had died just hours before him. John Adams’s Vice Presidency, though often overshadowed, was a crucial part of his long and impactful career dedicated to the service of the United States.
