The Adams family stands as one of the most influential families in American history, with their contributions spanning across politics, diplomacy, and intellectual thought. This timeline delves into the key events of John Adams, Abigail Adams, and their descendants, offering a comprehensive look at their lives and lasting impact on the United States.
1735 October 19: John Adams enters the world in Braintree, Massachusetts, the firstborn son to Deacon John Adams and Susanna Boylston Adams. He grows up alongside two younger brothers.
1744 November 11: Abigail Smith is born in Weymouth, Massachusetts. She is the second of four children born to Reverend William Smith and Elizabeth Quincy Smith, establishing her connection to another prominent family in the region.
1751 Driven by intellectual ambition, Adams enrolls at Harvard College in Cambridge, embarking on his path of education and enlightenment.
1752 September 3 (September 14): Great Britain and its colonies adopt the Gregorian calendar, necessitating an 11-day correction from the Old Style to the New Style. Consequently, John’s birthday shifts to October 30, and Abigail’s to November 22.
1755 Following his graduation from Harvard, Adams takes on the role of schoolmaster at a grammar school in Worcester, Massachusetts, educating both boys and girls.
November 18: A pivotal moment for historical record, Adams begins his diary. This personal chronicle would expand into four volumes by the end of his life, offering invaluable insights into his thoughts and times.
1756 August 21: Adams commences his legal apprenticeship, diligently studying law. He achieves admission to the Suffolk County Bar in Boston in 1758, marking the formal beginning of his legal career.
1759 John Adams and Abigail Smith’s paths cross for the first time. Their initial acquaintance evolves into a deeper connection two years later, setting the stage for a significant courtship.
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1761 May 25: Grief strikes as Adams’ father passes away during an influenza outbreak. John inherits a considerable estate, including land adjacent to the family homestead, securing his financial footing.
1763 February 10: The Treaty of Paris officially concludes the French and Indian War (known as the Seven Years’ War in Europe). England’s triumph solidifies its position as the dominant colonial power in North America, reshaping the geopolitical landscape.
June-July: Adams ventures into political commentary, publishing his first pieces in newspapers. Under the pseudonym “Humphrey Ploughjogger,” he satirizes human nature, and as “U,” he advocates for a balanced governmental structure incorporating monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy.
October 7: King George III issues the Proclamation of 1763, prohibiting colonial expansion into the Western territories of North America, a decision that fuels colonial discontent.
1764 April 5: The British Parliament enacts the Revenue Act of 1764, widely known in America as the Sugar Act. Revenues from duties on imported sugar are designated for the upkeep of the British army’s presence in the colonies, sparking the cry of “No taxation without representation” by Boston lawyer James Otis in protest.
October 25: John Adams and Abigail Smith unite in marriage in Weymouth, beginning their lifelong partnership.
1765 March 22: Parliament passes the Stamp Act, the first direct tax imposed on the American colonies. This act mandates taxes on all printed materials, excluding personal correspondence and books, though its enforcement is largely limited to Georgia.
July 14: John and Abigail welcome their first child, Abigail Amelia, affectionately nicknamed “Nabby.”
August: Boston witnesses escalating protests and boycotts against the Stamp Act, reflecting growing colonial resistance. While Adams does not condone mob violence, he anonymously asserts that “liberty must at all hazards be supported.”
October: Adams drafts the Braintree Instructions for the Massachusetts legislature, a formal protest against the Stamp Act. This marks his initial foray into political activism. Forty towns adopt the document, declaring taxation without representation as unconstitutional.
1766 March 18: The Stamp Act is repealed, a victory for the colonists. However, Parliament immediately passes the Declaratory Act, reaffirming its authority to legislate for the colonies “in all cases whatsoever.” Overshadowed by celebrations of the repeal, the Declaratory Act’s significance is initially downplayed.
Adams is elected selectman in Braintree, taking his first official step into public service.
1767 June-July: The Townshend Revenue Acts are introduced, imposing taxes on goods such as glass, lead, paper, tea, and paints. Following a successful boycott of British goods, all taxes are repealed in 1770, except for the tea tax, a symbolic point of contention.
July 11: The Adamses celebrate the birth of their first son, John Quincy Adams, who would later follow in his father’s footsteps to the presidency.
1768 October 1: In response to mounting protests against British taxation in Massachusetts, Parliament sends 4,000 British troops to Boston, escalating tensions in the already fraught city.
December 28: A second daughter, Susanna, is born into the Adams family.
1770 February 4: Tragedy strikes as Susanna passes away in Boston at just 13 months old.
March 5: The Boston Massacre occurs when British soldiers fire upon a crowd, killing five colonists. Despite public outcry, Adams agrees to defend the soldiers, upholding the principle that everyone deserves legal representation and a fair trial in a free society.
May 29: A second son, Charles Adams, is born.
June: Despite public criticism for defending the soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre, Adams is elected to the Massachusetts legislature, demonstrating continued public trust in his abilities.
October-December: The Boston Massacre trials conclude with acquittals for the captain and six of the eight soldiers, a controversial outcome that further divides public opinion.
1771 Spring: The pressures of public life take a toll on Adams’ health, leading the family to retreat to Braintree. Though he frequently travels for his legal practice, they return to Boston the following year.
1772 September 15: A third son, Thomas Boylston Adams, is born in Braintree, expanding the Adams family once more.
1773 December 16: The Boston Tea Party marks a significant escalation in the conflict between colonists and the British crown. Protesters, opposing the tea tax, board British ships and dump tea into Boston Harbor.
1774 The Adamses permanently relocate to Braintree. Boston, a focal point of anti-British unrest, is deemed too volatile for family life.
May-June: The Coercive Acts, also known as the Intolerable Acts, are enacted in response to the Boston Tea Party, aiming to restore order in Massachusetts. Boston Harbor is shut down, and a royal governor is appointed.
September 5-October 26: Adams represents Massachusetts as one of four delegates at the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia. The congress convenes in response to the Intolerable Acts, seeking a unified colonial response.
1775 January-April: Adams pens his “Novanglus” essays, arguing that while Parliament has the right to regulate colonial commerce, it cannot impose taxes without colonial representation.
April 19: British troops, dispatched to seize colonial gunpowder, clash with Massachusetts militia – the Minutemen – in Lexington and Concord, igniting the armed conflict. British authorities grapple with whether this is a localized skirmish or the start of a full-scale revolution.
May: The Second Continental Congress assembles and establishes the Continental Army. On June 15, Adams nominates George Washington as its commander, a nomination unanimously approved.
June 17: The Battle of Bunker Hill unfolds near Boston. Abigail and John Quincy witness the cannon fire from Penn’s Hill in Braintree. Despite a British victory, heavy casualties signal to Britain that a revolution is indeed underway.
July 8: The Second Continental Congress sends the Olive Branch Petition to King George III. Adams staunchly opposes this petition, which pledges loyalty to England while requesting a cessation of military actions against the colonists. The King refuses to even read it.
August: Adams returns to Braintree, staying until the following month.
October 1: Abigail’s mother succumbs to dysentery during an epidemic in Braintree. The same disease claims John’s brother Elihu, a soldier in the siege of Boston, earlier in the year, and also sickens Abigail and Tommy.
December: Adams travels to Braintree, remaining until February.
1776 January 10: Thomas Paine anonymously publishes Common Sense, a pamphlet that galvanizes colonists to take up arms against the British monarchy.
March 17: The eleven-month siege of Boston concludes. British forces agree to withdraw peacefully from Boston if left unmolested by Washington’s troops.
March 31: Abigail sends her famous “Remember the Ladies” letter to John, advocating for women’s rights to be considered alongside men’s in the formation of new national laws.
April: In Thoughts on Government, Adams anonymously promotes a three-branch system of government: a bicameral legislature, an independent judiciary, and a strong executive.
June 7: Following Virginian Richard Henry Lee’s resolution for independence from England, Congress forms a committee to draft a formal declaration. Adams urges Jefferson to write the document.
June 13: Adams is appointed president of Congress’ Board of War, effectively becoming the Secretary of War. He also authors the Plan of Treaties, outlining a strategy for alliances with European nations.
July 2: Lee’s resolution for independence is officially adopted, largely due to Adams’ passionate advocacy.
July 4: Congress formally adopts the Declaration of Independence. Celebrations erupt across the colonies as news spreads.
September 15: British forces occupy New York City. Adams travels to Staten Island with Benjamin Franklin and Edward Rutledge to negotiate with Admiral Lord Howe.
October: Adams returns to Braintree.
December 24: In Trenton, New Jersey, Washington’s forces capture over 900 Hessian troops and their weaponry, with minimal American losses.
1777 January: John departs Braintree for Baltimore to attend the Second Continental Congress.
March: Congress relocates to Philadelphia, and Adams follows.
June 14: Congress approves the Flag Resolution, establishing the design of the American flag with 13 white stars on a blue field and 13 red and white stripes.
July 11: Abigail gives birth to a stillborn daughter named Elizabeth on John Quincy’s 10th birthday, a moment of personal sorrow amidst national upheaval.
September 26: British forces capture Philadelphia (Congress, including Adams, had relocated to York, Pennsylvania, days prior).
October 17: A significant British army of nearly 6,000 soldiers surrenders at Saratoga, New York, a turning point in the Revolutionary War.
November 15: The Second Continental Congress adopts the Articles of Confederation. This foundational document grants states significant autonomy, including control over their judicial and legislative systems and powers later reserved for the federal government, such as coining money. Adams returns to Braintree and resumes his legal practice.
1778 February 6: Following the American victory at Saratoga, France officially recognizes the United States as an independent nation and enters into a military alliance against England, along with a commercial treaty.
February 14-April 1: Adams, accompanied by 10-year-old John Quincy, joins the joint commission in Paris, only to discover the alliance is already secured. With Franklin appointed as United States minister to France, Adams returns to Braintree.
1779 October 25: The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, principally authored by Adams, is adopted. It serves as a blueprint for the U.S. Constitution and remains in effect today, a testament to Adams’ enduring political philosophy.
November: Adams sets sail for Europe to negotiate a peace treaty with England, as the sole United States representative. John Quincy and nine-year-old Charles accompany him on this important diplomatic mission.
1780 January: Adams establishes residence in Paris at the Hotel de Valois, setting up his base for peace negotiations.
May 4: The American Academy of Arts and Sciences in Boston, founded by Adams as a platform for promoting democratic ideals, is incorporated.
May 12: America suffers a major military setback with the surrender of nearly 6,000 American soldiers in Charleston, South Carolina.
June 20: Congress commissions Adams to negotiate a loan from the Netherlands, crucial for financing the ongoing war effort.
July: Before official news of his commission reaches him, Adams travels to the Netherlands to explore financial assistance possibilities. He stays in Amsterdam until July 1781, before returning to Paris.
1781 October 19: With crucial support from the French army and navy, Washington secures a decisive victory at Yorktown, Virginia, the final major battle of the war. Britain agrees to peace talks.
1782 April 19: Due to Adams’ persistent efforts, the Netherlands formally recognizes American independence. Two months later, on June 11, Adams successfully secures a $2 million loan from Dutch bankers, a vital financial boost for the fledgling nation.
October: Adams returns to Paris to engage in preliminary treaty negotiations between America and Great Britain.
1783 Congress declares July 4, Independence Day, an official national holiday.
July 8: The Massachusetts Supreme Court outlaws slavery in Massachusetts. By the end of the year, all Northern states follow suit, marking a significant step towards abolition in the new nation.
Adams travels to The Hague to reunite with John Quincy. They return to Paris the following month to continue peace negotiations.
September 3: Adams, along with Benjamin Franklin and John Jay, signs the Treaty of Paris, officially ending the War of Independence and recognizing American sovereignty.
October: Adams and John Quincy depart France for London, spending several months exploring the city and experiencing English culture.
1784 January: Adams returns to Amsterdam to negotiate a second loan with Dutch financiers, continuing to secure vital financial resources for the new nation.
July 21: After a month-long voyage across the Atlantic, Abigail and Nabby arrive in Europe, joining John. On August 7, they reunite in London after five years of separation. They relocate to Auteuil, near Paris, where Adams serves with Franklin and Jefferson on a commission to establish commercial treaties for the United States.
1785 February 24: Adams is appointed as the first U.S. minister to Great Britain, a landmark diplomatic achievement. In May, the family moves to London and establishes residence in the first American legation (embassy).
June 1: Adams has his initial private audience with King George III, a symbolic moment of reconciliation. Three weeks later, Abigail and Nabby are presented to Queen Charlotte, solidifying the American diplomatic presence in London.
1786 March: Jefferson visits London. He and Adams collaborate on attempts to negotiate commercial treaties with Tripoli, Portugal, and Great Britain, while also taking a horticultural tour of English gardens, reflecting their shared intellectual curiosity.
June 12: Nabby marries Colonel William Smith, Adams’ secretary, in London, beginning a new chapter for the Adams family.
Summer: John and Abigail embark on pleasure trips around England, a novel experience in their long marriage. Abigail also accompanies John on a trip to the Netherlands.
1787 May: Adams travels to Amsterdam to secure a third loan from the Dutch, continuing his crucial financial diplomacy.
June-July: Jefferson’s daughter, Polly, and Sally Hemings, a Monticello slave, stay with the Adamses. Decades later, during the 1800 election, Jefferson faces allegations regarding his relationship with Hemings and the paternity of her children.
September 17: Washington presides over the Constitutional Convention. Delegates from all colonies except Rhode Island convene and approve the document that will become the U.S. Constitution, shaping the future of American governance.
1788 February 20: Adams has his farewell audience with King George, signaling the end of his diplomatic tenure in London. Eager to participate in the new Republic, Adams has requested to be recalled to America.
March: Adams returns to The Hague to negotiate a fourth loan with the Dutch, finalizing his financial contributions to the nascent United States.
April: John and Abigail return to Massachusetts. By July, they settle into a new home in Braintree, which Adams names “Peacefield,” reflecting his desire for tranquility after years of public service.
1789 March: Adams is elected as the nation’s first vice president, a significant but, in his view, somewhat underwhelming role. He is sworn in on April 21 in New York. He famously remarks about the office: “My country in its wisdom contrived for me the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived.'”
April 30: George Washington is inaugurated as the first President of the United States. Adams establishes his vice-presidential residence at Richmond Hill in New York City.
July 14: The French Revolution begins with the storming of the Bastille prison in Paris, a pivotal event that resonates across the Atlantic and shapes global political discourse.
October-December: Adams travels between New York and Braintree during congressional sessions, maintaining ties to his home and family.
1790 April: In his year-long serial publication of “Discourses on Davila,” Adams explores the potential dangers of “unbridled democracy” and expresses views on strong executive leadership, which contribute to his reputation as a monarchist in some circles.
April 17: Benjamin Franklin passes away. Philadelphia and other American cities hold elaborate tributes to honor the influential statesman and inventor.
July 16: Congress passes the Residence Bill, authorizing President Washington to select a permanent location for the U.S. government, setting the stage for the creation of Washington, D.C.
September: Adams travels between New York and Philadelphia, establishing a new residence at Bush Hill in anticipation of the government’s relocation.
November: Abigail joins John in Philadelphia. Disliking the city, she returns to Massachusetts after six months, declaring she will never return. Adams spends much of his vice presidency commuting between Philadelphia and home to be with her.
1791 May: Adams is appointed president of Boston’s Academy of Arts and Sciences, a position he holds until 1813, reflecting his continued commitment to intellectual and scientific pursuits.
May-October: Adams travels between Philadelphia and Braintree during congressional sessions.
December 15: Congress ratifies the Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to the Constitution, guaranteeing fundamental rights and freedoms to American citizens.
1792 February 22: Braintree’s North Parish is incorporated as the town of Quincy, recognizing the growing community and its distinct identity.
April: John and Abigail return to Quincy.
September: The monarchy in France is abolished, and France is declared a republic, marking a radical shift in European politics.
November: Adams returns to Philadelphia alone, leaving Abigail in Quincy.
December: Washington and Adams are re-elected for a second term, ensuring continuity in the executive branch.
1793 January 21: France’s King Louis XVI is executed, escalating the French Revolution and shocking monarchies across Europe.
February 1: Great Britain, Prussia, and Austria, fearing the spread of revolutionary ideas and appalled by the King’s execution, declare war on France, plunging Europe into conflict.
April 22: Washington issues a Proclamation of Neutrality, declaring the U.S. intention to remain neutral in the European war, a policy Adams supports despite partisan divisions.
May: Adams returns to Quincy, staying until November.
September 5: France’s Reign of Terror commences. Over the next ten months, tens of thousands of perceived “counterrevolutionaries” are executed, a dark chapter in the French Revolution. The Reign of Terror ends with the arrest and execution of Maximilien Robespierre on July 28, 1794.
1795 February: Adams travels to Quincy, staying until May, and makes a second trip in June, remaining until November.
August 29: Charles Adams marries Sally Smith, Nabby’s sister-in-law, in New York, expanding the Adams family network.
1796 May: Adams travels to Quincy for the summer, focusing on farm work. He returns to Philadelphia in November to preside over the Senate in his capacity as Vice President.
December: Adams narrowly defeats Jefferson in the presidential election. They and their respective parties are deeply divided on foreign policy, particularly regarding relations with France.
1797 March 4: John Adams is sworn in as the second President of the United States, succeeding Washington and navigating a politically fractured nation.
June 1: Adams appoints John Quincy as minister to Prussia. John Quincy initially hesitates, concerned about accusations of nepotism, before accepting the crucial diplomatic post.
May: Abigail, reversing her earlier vow, joins John in Philadelphia, the temporary capital, to support him in his presidency.
Summer: Committed to maintaining neutrality amidst escalating tensions with France, Adams announces a peace mission to France.
July 26: John Quincy marries Louisa Catherine Johnson, an Anglo-American woman, in London, beginning his own family and diplomatic career.
John and Abigail travel to Quincy, staying until November.
1798 March-April: The Quasi-War with France intensifies with the XYZ Affair, in which French foreign minister Talleyrand’s agents demand a bribe from U.S. envoys in exchange for diplomatic talks, igniting public outrage in America.
May-June: Opposing a formal declaration of war but advocating for military preparedness, Adams proposes the creation of the Department of the Navy. Congress approves, strengthening American naval capabilities.
July 14: Adams signs the Alien and Sedition Acts into law. The Naturalization and Alien Acts restrict immigrants’ rights, while the Sedition Act limits freedom of speech and press, making criticism of the government punishable, highly controversial measures that spark fierce opposition.
August: Abigail falls seriously ill en route to Quincy, briefly near death. She recovers over several months but remains weakened. John returns to Philadelphia alone in November to continue his presidential duties.
1799 February 18: Against the wishes of his Federalist Party, Adams sends a second peace delegation to France, prioritizing diplomacy over further conflict.
March: Adams returns to Quincy.
October: Adams travels to Trenton to meet with his cabinet and dispatch commissioners to France, amidst growing political instability in France itself.
November 9: Napoleon Bonaparte seizes power in France, overthrowing the Directory and assuming near-dictatorial authority. By 1804, he crowns himself Emperor, reshaping European politics. John and Abigail return to Philadelphia.
December 14: George Washington dies at Mount Vernon at age 67. Adams eulogizes him as the nation’s “most esteemed … citizen,” recognizing the profound loss to the young nation.
1800 May: A Federalist caucus in Congress nominates Adams and Charles Cotesworth Pinckney as the party’s candidates for the 1800 election. The Republicans nominate Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr, setting the stage for a fiercely contested election.
June: Adams travels to Washington, D.C. to inspect the new capital city, before returning to Quincy.
September: Alexander Hamilton, Adams’ Federalist rival, publishes a scathing Letter … Concerning the Public Conduct and Character of John Adams, Esq., attacking Adams’ reelection bid and further fracturing the Federalist party.
November 1: Adams becomes the first president to reside in the newly completed President’s House in Washington, D.C., marking the official relocation of the federal government. Abigail joins him mid-November, shortly before the election.
November 30: Charles Adams, struggling with alcoholism for years, dies of liver failure at age 30, a personal tragedy for the Adams family.
December: Thomas Jefferson defeats Adams in the presidential election, marking a peaceful transfer of power between opposing political parties.
1801 March 3: The Sedition Act expires, reflecting the changing political climate and reduced Federalist influence.
March 4: Hours before Jefferson’s inauguration, Adams departs Washington to return to Quincy, declining to witness his successor’s swearing-in. Abigail had preceded him in February.
1802 October 5: Adams begins writing his Autobiography, a project that occupies him for the next five years, offering a detailed personal account of his life and the founding era.
1803 April 30: Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase for $15 million – acquiring 828,000 square miles of land west of the Mississippi River – nearly doubles the size of the United States, a transformative event in American expansion.
1804 November 13: Jefferson wins a landslide victory for his second term, solidifying Republican dominance.
1805 May 16: Thomas Adams marries Ann Harrod, further expanding the Adams family lineage.
1809 April-June: John Quincy aligns with the Republican Party, his father’s former political opposition, after years of conflict with the Federalists, signaling a shift in political allegiances within the family.
1811 October 8: Nabby undergoes a mastectomy for breast cancer. This rare surgery, performed without anesthesia, initially appears successful but ultimately proves insufficient.
1812 January: After an eleven-year silence, Adams initiates correspondence with Jefferson, beginning a remarkable exchange of letters that continues until their deaths, reflecting a reconciliation between the two former presidents.
1813 August 14: Nabby succumbs to breast cancer at age 48, a profound loss for the Adams family.
1817 John Quincy begins his eight-year tenure as Secretary of State under President James Monroe, embarking on a distinguished career in diplomacy and public service.
1818 October 28: Abigail Adams dies in Quincy from typhoid fever at age 73, marking the end of a remarkable life and partnership.
1825 February 9: Despite finishing second in the popular vote and lacking a clear electoral college majority, John Quincy Adams is elected President by the House of Representatives, echoing his father’s presidential legacy. Like his father, he serves a single term.
1826 July 4: On the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, John Adams dies at Peacefield at the age of 91. His famous last words are “Thomas Jefferson survives.” Unbeknownst to him, Thomas Jefferson had also passed away just hours earlier at Monticello, marking a symbolic end of an era for the founding fathers.
