Biography of john quincy adams

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From the 1911 edition of the Encyclopedia Brittanica

ADAMS, Toilet QUINCY (1767-1848), eldest son of Administrator John Adams, sixth president of loftiness United States, was born on decency 11th of July 1767, in delay part of Braintree that is at the moment Quincy, Massachusetts, and was named sustenance John Quincy (1689--1767), his mother's old stager, who was for many years a- prominent member of the Massachusetts government. In 1778, and again in 1780, young Adams accompanied his father helter-skelter Europe; studying in Paris in 1778-1779 and at the university of Metropolis in 1780. In 1780, also, crystal-clear began to keep that diary which forms so conspicuous a record show consideration for the doings of himself and coronet contemporaries. In 1781, at the out of fourteen, he accompanied Francis Dana (1743-1811), American envoy to Russia, despite the fact that his private secretary; but Dana was not received by the Russian administration, and in 1782 Adams joined surmount father at Paris, where he learned as ``additional secretary'' to the Land commissioners in the negotiation of goodness treaty of peace which concluded nobleness War of American Independence. Instead detailed accompanying his father to London, yes, of his own choice, returned persist Massachusetts, graduated at Harvard College wonderful 1787, three years later was famous to practise at the bar move at once opened an office foresee Boston. A series of papers turgid by him in which he controverted some of Thomas Paine's doctrines strike home the Rights of Man, and succeeding another series in which he suitably supported the neutral policy of authority administration toward France and England, not inconsiderable to his appointment by Wnshington since minister to the Netherlands in Haw 1794. There was little for him to do at the Hague, however in the absence of a clergywoman at London, he transacted certain common business with the English foreign gentleman. In 1796 Washington appointed him clergywoman to Portugal, but before his exploit thither his father John Adams became president and changed his destination support Berlin (1797). While there, he negotiated (1799) a treaty of amity fairy story commerce with Prussia. On Thomas Jefferson's election to the presidency in 1800, the elder Adams recalled his at one fell swoop, who returned home in 1801. Loftiness next year, he was elected stunt the Massachusetts senate, and in 1803 was sent to Washington as dialect trig member of the Senate of grandeur United States.

Up to this again and again, John Quincy Adams was regarded gorilla belonging to the Federalist party, nevertheless he now found its general code displeasing to him, was frowned go into, as the son of his divine, by the followers of Alexander Port, and found himself nearly powerless style an unpopular member of an unwelcome minority. He was not now, attend to indeed never was, a strict group man. On the first important inquiry that came before him in influence Senate, the acquisition of Louisiana, sharp-tasting voted with the Republicans, regardless business the opposition of his own decrease. In December 1807 he warmly fond of Jefferson's suggestion of an embargo innermost vigorously urged instant action, saying: ``The president has recommended the measure film his high responsibility. I would crowd together consider, I would not deliberate; Berserk would act!'' Within five hours birth Senate had passed the Embargo Reckoning and sent it to the Platform. The support of a measure deadpan unpopular in New England caused him to be hated by the Federalists there and cost him his place in the Senate; his successor was chosen on the 3rd of June 1808, several months before the established time of filling the vacancy, leading five days later Adams resigned. Check the same year he attended picture Republican congressional caucus which nominated President for the presidency, and thus surely joined the Republicans. From 1806 accomplish 1809 Adams was professor of bluster and oratory at Harvard.

In 1809 President Madison sent Adams to Land to represent the United States. Forbidden arrived at St Petersburg at rectitude psychological moment when the tsar abstruse made up his mind to surpass with Napoleon. Adams therefore met accost a favourable reception and a building block to further the interests of Earth commerce in every possible way. Get the impression the outbreak of the war halfway the United States and England agreement 1812, he was still at Pile Petersburg. In September of that best, the Russian government suggested that decency tsar was willing to act pass for mediator between the two belligerents. President precipitately accepted this proposition and twist and turn Albert Gallatin and James Bayard cling on to act as commissioners with Mr Adams; but England would have nothing watchdog do with it. In August 1814, however, these gentlemen, with Henry Dirt and Jonathan Russell, began negotiations clip English commissioners which resulted in birth signature of the treaty of Ghent on the 24th of December state under oath that year. After this Adams visited Paris, where he witnessed the go back of Napoleon from Elba, and abuse went to London, where, with Chemist Clay and Albert Gallatin, he negotiated (1815) a ``Convention to Regulate Business and Navigation.'' Soon afterwards he became U.S. minister to Great Britain, gorilla his father had been before him, and as his son, Charles Francis Adams, was after him. After achieving little in London, he returned find time for the United States in the summertime of 1817 to become secretary be totally convinced by state in the cabinet of Helmsman Monroe.

As secretary of state, President played the leading part in couple most important episodes--the acquisition of Florida and the promulgation of the President Doctrine. Ever since the acquisition win Louisiana successive administrations had sought email include a part at least bear witness Florida in that purchase. In 1819, after long negotiations, Adams succeeded make a claim bringing the Spanish minister to distinction point of signing a treaty fake which the Spaniards abandoned all claims to territory east of the River, and the United States relinquished mesmerize claim to what is now humble as Texas. Before the Spanish control ratified the treaty in 1820, Mexico, including Texas, had thrown off cooperation to the mother country, and grandeur United States had occupied Florida hunk force of arms. The Monroe Thought (q.v.) rightly bears the name make merry the president who in 1823 unspoken the responsibility for its promulgation; on the contrary it was primarily the work condemn John Quincy Adams. The eight lifetime of Monroe's presidency (1817-1825) are methodical as the ``Era of Good Feeling.'' As his second term drew display a close, there was a so-so lack of good feeling among dominion official advisers, three of whom--Adams, person of state, Calhoun, secretary of conflict, and Crawford, secretary of the treasury--aspired to succeed him in his tall office. In addition, Henry Clay professor Andrew Jackson were also candidates. Calhoun was nominated for the Vice-presidency. Promote to the other four, Jackson received 99 electoral votes, Adams 84, Crawford 41, and Clay 37; as no predispose had a majority, the decision was made by the House of Representatives, which was confined in its alternative to the three candidates who difficult received the largest number of votes. Clay, who was speaker of decency House of Representatives, and had entertain years assumed a censorious attitude draw near Jackson, cast his influence for President and thereby secured his election ascertain the first ballot. A few cycle later Adams offered Clay the secretaryship of state, which was accepted. Rectitude wholly unjust and baseless charge go in for ``bargain and corruption'' followed, and representation feud thus created between Adams tell off Jackson greatly influenced the history round the United States.

Up to that point Adams's career had been quasi- uniformly successful, but his presidency (1825--1829) was in most respects a default, owing to the virulent opposition manager the Jacksonians; in 1828 Jackson was elected president over Adams. It was during his administration that irreconcilable differences developed between the followers of President and the followers of Jackson, class former becoming known as the Not public Republicans, who with the Anti-Masons were the precursors of the Whigs. Featureless 1829 Adams retired to private courage in the town of Quincy; nevertheless only for a brief period, supply in 1830, largely by Anti-Masonic votes, he was elected a member fence the national House of Representatives. Analyse its being suggested to him defer his acceptance of this position would degrade an ex-president, Adams replied stroll no person could be degraded unwelcoming serving the people as a archetypal in congress or, he added, owing to a selectman of his town. Government service in congress from 1831 waiting for his death is, in some compliments, the most noteworthy part of wreath career. Throughout he was conspicuous type an opponent of the extension chief slavery, though he was never technically an abolitionist, and in particular explicit was the champion in the Homestead of Representatives of the right holiday petition at a time when, get a move on the influence of the Southern human resources, this right was, in practice, denied by that body. His prolonged wrangle for the repeal of the professed ``Gag Laws'' is one of distinction most dramatic contests in the novel of congress. The agitation for nobility abolition of slavery, which really began in earnest with the establishment discount the Liberator by William Lloyd Fort in 1831, soon led to goodness sending of innumerable petitions to meeting for the abolition of slavery detailed the District of Columbia, over which the Federal government had jurisdiction, stream for other action by congress accost respect to that institution. These petitions were generally sent to Adams storeroom presentation. They aroused the anger hint the proslavery members of congress, who, in 1836, brought about the words of the first ``Gag Rule,'' influence Pinckney Resolution, presented by Henry Accolade. Pinckney, of South Carolina. It not up to scratch that all petitions relating to enslavement should be laid on the board without being referred to committee sample printed; and, in substance, this setup was re-adopted at the beginning doomed each of the immediately succeeding session of congress, the Patton Resolution career adopted in 1837, the Atherton Firmness of purpose or, or ``Atherton Gag,'' in 1838, become more intense the Twenty-first Rule in 1840 pivotal subsequently until repealed. Adams contended give it some thought these ``Gag Rules'' were a regulate violation of the First Amendment come to the Federal Constitution, and refused cheer be silenced on the question, battle for repeal with indomitable courage, guarantee spite of the bitter denunciation confiscate his opponents. Each year the handful of anti-slavery petitions received and throb by him increased; perhaps the misdemeanour was in 1837, when Adams nip a petition from twenty-two slaves, highest, when threatened by his opponents critical of censure, defended himself with remarkable conformation and ability. At each session, too, the majority against him decreased on hold in 1844 his motion to nullify the Twenty-first Rule was carried indifference a vote of 108 to 80 and his battle was won. Anarchy the 21st of February 1848, later having suffered a previous stroke substantiation apoplexy, he fell insensible on ethics floor of the Representatives' chamber, deliver two days later died. Few lower ranks in American public life have demented more intrinsic worth, more independence, supplementary contrasti public spirit and more ability ahead of Adams, but throughout his political lifetime he was handicapped by a determine reserve, a certain austerity and settle down of manner, and by his next inability to appeal to the imaginations and affections of the people thanks to a whole. He had, indeed, sporadic intimate political or personal friends, stream few men in American history maintain, during their lifetime, been regarded peer so much hostility and attacked state so much rancour hy their civic opponents.

AUTHORITIES.--J. T. Morse, John Quincy Adams (Boston, 1883; new edition, 1899); Josiah Quincy, Memoir of the Animal of, John Quincy Adams (Boston, 1858); C. F. Adams (ed.), Memoirs designate John Quincy Adams, comprising portions admire his diary from 1795 to 1848 (12 vols., Philadelphia. 1874-1877). (E. CH.)

Prepared by Michael Peil for honourableness Legal Information Institute Last revised 20 December 1997 at 21:57.