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John Quincy Adams isn't remembered as one of the greatest Presidents, and he really made his reputation after his Presidency, as a very fierce anti-slavery advocate and an abolitionist. He was also one of the nation's most able diplomats, a craft he learned at a very young age from his father, the second President of the United States, John Adams. John Quincy served as a diplomat, a United States Senator and a member of the House of Representatives. He was a member of the Federalist, Democratic-Republican, National Republican, and later the Anti-Masonic and Whig parties. As a diplomat, Adams played an important role in negotiating many international treaties, including the Treaty of Ghent, which ended the War of 1812. As Secretary of State in the administration of James Monroe, he negotiated with Great Britain over the United States' northern border with Canada, he negotiated with Spain for the annexation of Florida, and he wrote the Monroe Doctrine, which set out the nation's policy on interference by European nations in geopolitics in the Western hemisphere. Many historians view him as one of the greatest diplomats and secretaries of state in American history.
He was elected president in 1824 in one of the most controversial elections in the nation's history. He finished second in popular and electoral vote to Andrew Jackson, but since no candidate had a majority of electoral votes, the election was decided by the House of Representatives and John Quincy Adams was selected president over Jackson. Thereafter, Jackson accused John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay of forging a "corrupt bargain" which resulted in Adams becoming President and Clay becoming Secretary of State, which at the time, was seen as a springboard to the presidency.
As President, John Quincy Adams sought to modernize the American economy and he promoted education. On his watch much of the national debt was paid off. But he was stymied by a Congress controlled by his enemies, and his lack of patronage networks hurt his chances for re-election. He lost his 1828 bid for re-election to Andrew Jackson. In doing so, he became the first president since his father to serve a single term.
Adams was elected as a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts after leaving office, serving for the last 17 years of his life with far greater distinction than he had achieved as president. He is, so far, the only president later elected to the United States House of Representatives. He was a very aggressive opponent of slavery and of what he called the Slave Power. His protests in the House against slavery were met with "gag orders" and he successfully argued the famous case of the Amistad before the US Supreme Court. He predicted that if a civil war were to break out, the president could abolish slavery by using his war powers. Adams also predicted the Union's dissolution over the slavery issue, but said that if the South became independent there would be a series of bloody slave revolts.
In 1846, the 78-year old former president suffered a stroke that left him partially paralyzed. After a few months of rest, he made a full recovery and resumed his duties in Congress. When he entered the House chamber, his fellow congressmen "stood up and applauded." On February 21, 1848, the House of Representatives was discussing the matter of honoring U.S. Army officers who served in the Mexican–American War. Adams had been a vehement critic of the war because he believed that its purpose was to expand the institution of slavery. As Congressmen rose up to say "Aye" in favor of the measure, Adams yelled "No!" He rose to answer a question put forth by the Speaker of the House, but he then collapsed, having suffered a massive cerebral hemorrhage. He was taken to a bed in the Speaker's Room of the Capitol. Two days later, on February 23, he died there with his wife and son at his side. His last words were "This is the last of earth. I am content." He died at 7:20 p.m.