John Adams (1735-1826)
John Adams was born in 1735 in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He went to school at Harvard where he learned how to be a lawyer. Yet, he was not known more for his patriotism and a delegate to the First and Second Continental Congresses. He was one of the leaders for the movement for independence against the British.
He served in Holland and France during the Revolutionary War as a diplomat where he worked to negotiate treaties of peace. From 1785 to 1788 he was the minister to the Court of St. James’s. on his return he was elected to be the Vice president to George Washington.
He served two terms as Vice President - but seemed to have a hard time. Adams was a man that was full of passion and was very intellectual - but he was also vain. He constantly complained to his wife - Abigail Adams saying, “My country has in its wisdom contrived for me the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived.”
Yet, this did not stop him from becoming President. During his term as President the war between the British and the French broke out and was causing problems in the United States waters. He and his administration focused their efforts on France because the ruling group had suspended all commercial relations.
He sent three commissioners to France - but in 1798 he was told that the Director ruling group and the French Foreign Minister Talleyrand had refused all negotiations without first being given a bribe that would make it worth their while. Adams felt that this was a great insult to them and reported it to Congress and the Senate.
While President Adam never did declare a war there were many battles fought at sea. During 1800 America was able to defend her waters and the French. They won many battles - but soon both sides grew weary of battle. Negotiations were made and it was over.
When he made peace with France his opponents - the Hamiltonians - grew angry with him and campaigned against him. During the campaign of 1800 the Republicans had grown strong and were united against the divided Federalists. But that didn’t stop Adams from winning his second term and beating out Jefferson.
After his second term was over Adams chose to retire at his farm in Quincy. It was there that he wrote many letters to Thomas Jefferson. On July 4th, 1862 he spoke his last words, “Thomas Jefferson survives.” He did not know that Jefferson had died at Monticello a few hours earlier.