Happy Birthday John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams was born on July 11, 1767, 248 years ago today. He was the sixth President of the United States from 1825 to 1829. Before that he served as a diplomat, a Senator and as Secretary of State, and after his presidency he served as a member of the House of Representatives. During the course of his life he was a member of the Federalist, Democratic-Republican, National Republican, Anti-Masonic and Whig parties.
Adams was the son of former President John Adams and Abigail Adams. As a young boy his father took him to Europe with him. At the age of twenty-five, Adams was appointed at Minister (Ambassador) to the Netherlands. As a diplomat, Adams played an important role in negotiating key treaties, including the Treaty of Ghent, which ended the War of 1812. He served as Secretary of State in the administration of James Monroe and while in that position he negotiated with Britain over the United States' northern border with Canada. He also negotiated with Spain the annexation of Florida, and drafted President James Monroe's famous pronouncement on European intervention in the Western Hemisphere known as the Monroe Doctrine. Many consider him to be one of the greatest diplomats and secretaries of state in American history.
He became President in the controversial election of 1824 in which he finished second to Andrew Jackson in both the popular and electoral vote, but was awarded the presidency by the House of Representatives because no candidate obtained a majority of electoral votes. As President, Adams sought to modernize the American economy and promote education. On his watch much of the national debt was paid off. But he did not enjoy support in Congress due in part to his lack of patronage networks. A high tariff known as the "Tariff of Abominations" also lost him support in the south. He lost his 1828 bid for re-election to Andrew Jackson.
Adams was elected a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts after leaving office, serving for the last 17 years of his life. In Congress Adams became a leading opponent of the Slave Power. 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. He had remarkable foresight. He was 80 years old when he died on February 23, 1846, two days after collapsing while speaking in the House.
Last year John Quincy Adams was the subject of a very good biography written by Fred Kaplan entitled John Quincy Adams: American Visionary. A review of it can be found here.
Adams was the son of former President John Adams and Abigail Adams. As a young boy his father took him to Europe with him. At the age of twenty-five, Adams was appointed at Minister (Ambassador) to the Netherlands. As a diplomat, Adams played an important role in negotiating key treaties, including the Treaty of Ghent, which ended the War of 1812. He served as Secretary of State in the administration of James Monroe and while in that position he negotiated with Britain over the United States' northern border with Canada. He also negotiated with Spain the annexation of Florida, and drafted President James Monroe's famous pronouncement on European intervention in the Western Hemisphere known as the Monroe Doctrine. Many consider him to be one of the greatest diplomats and secretaries of state in American history.
He became President in the controversial election of 1824 in which he finished second to Andrew Jackson in both the popular and electoral vote, but was awarded the presidency by the House of Representatives because no candidate obtained a majority of electoral votes. As President, Adams sought to modernize the American economy and promote education. On his watch much of the national debt was paid off. But he did not enjoy support in Congress due in part to his lack of patronage networks. A high tariff known as the "Tariff of Abominations" also lost him support in the south. He lost his 1828 bid for re-election to Andrew Jackson.
Adams was elected a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts after leaving office, serving for the last 17 years of his life. In Congress Adams became a leading opponent of the Slave Power. 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. He had remarkable foresight. He was 80 years old when he died on February 23, 1846, two days after collapsing while speaking in the House.
Last year John Quincy Adams was the subject of a very good biography written by Fred Kaplan entitled John Quincy Adams: American Visionary. A review of it can be found here.