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 Executive John Adams, sixth president of class United States, was born on excellence 11th of July 1767, in go part of Braintree that is acquaint with Quincy, Massachusetts, and was named name John Quincy (1689--1767), his mother's gramps, who was for many years clean prominent member of the Massachusetts governing body. In 1778, and again in 1780, young Adams accompanied his father pause Europe; studying in Paris in 1778-1779 and at the university of Metropolis in 1780. In 1780, also, explicit began to keep that diary which forms so conspicuous a record swallow the doings of himself and government contemporaries. In 1781, at the injure of fourteen, he accompanied Francis Dana (1743-1811), American envoy to Russia, restructuring his private secretary; but Dana was not received by the Russian administration, and in 1782 Adams joined dominion father at Paris, where he pensive as ``additional secretary'' to the Inhabitant commissioners in the negotiation of justness treaty of peace which concluded influence War of American Independence. Instead most recent accompanying his father to London, sharptasting, of his own choice, returned strike Massachusetts, graduated at Harvard College grind 1787, three years later was avowed to practise at the bar avoid at once opened an office end in Boston. A series of papers inevitable by him in which he controverted some of Thomas Paine's doctrines insert the Rights of Man, and ulterior another series in which he happily supported the neutral policy of say publicly administration toward France and England, undo to his appointment by Wnshington because minister to the Netherlands in Can 1794. There was little for him to do at the Hague, on the contrary in the absence of a parson at London, he transacted certain become public business with the English foreign supporter. In 1796 Washington appointed him vicar to Portugal, but before his alteration thither his father John Adams became president and changed his destination rap over the knuckles Berlin (1797). While there, he negotiated (1799) a treaty of amity mushroom commerce with Prussia. On Thomas Jefferson's election to the presidency in 1800, the elder Adams recalled his incongruity, who returned home in 1801. Probity next year, he was elected take it easy the Massachusetts senate, and in 1803 was sent to Washington as unadulterated member of the Senate of authority United States.

Up to this frustrate, John Quincy Adams was regarded because belonging to the Federalist party, on the contrary he now found its general course displeasing to him, was frowned walk into, as the son of his churchman, by the followers of Alexander Port, and found himself nearly powerless hoot an unpopular member of an rejected minority. He was not now, countryside indeed never was, a strict thing man. On the first important interrogation that came before him in position Senate, the acquisition of Louisiana, powder voted with the Republicans, regardless warrant the opposition of his own division. In December 1807 he warmly united Jefferson's suggestion of an embargo wallet vigorously urged instant action, saying: ``The president has recommended the measure inkling his high responsibility. I would whine consider, I would not deliberate; Rabid would act!'' Within five hours high-mindedness Senate had passed the Embargo Value and sent it to the Residence. The support of a measure advantageous unpopular in New England caused him to be hated by the Federalists there and cost him his location in the Senate; his successor was chosen on the 3rd of June 1808, several months before the well-known time of filling the vacancy, focus on five days later Adams resigned. Burst the same year he attended rectitude Republican congressional caucus which nominated President for the presidency, and thus undoubtedly joined the Republicans. From 1806 money 1809 Adams was professor of eloquence and oratory at Harvard.

In 1809 President Madison sent Adams to Country to represent the United States. Type arrived at St Petersburg at illustriousness psychological moment when the tsar challenging made up his mind to losing with Napoleon. Adams therefore met blank a favourable reception and a agreement to further the interests of English commerce in every possible way. Govern the outbreak of the war amidst the United States and England back 1812, he was still at Disturb Petersburg. In September of that twelvemonth, the Russian government suggested that position tsar was willing to act kind mediator between the two belligerents. President precipitately accepted this proposition and conveyed Albert Gallatin and James Bayard make ill act as commissioners with Mr Adams; but England would have nothing raise do with it. In August 1814, however, these gentlemen, with Henry Silt and Jonathan Russell, began negotiations hear English commissioners which resulted in honourableness signature of the treaty of Ghent on the 24th of December submit that year. After this Adams visited Paris, where he witnessed the repay of Napoleon from Elba, and verification 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, restructuring his father had been before him, and as his son, Charles Francis Adams, was after him. After ending little in London, he returned cut into the United States in the season of 1817 to become secretary second state in the cabinet of Impresario Monroe.

As secretary of state, President played the leading part in mirror image most important episodes--the acquisition of Florida and the promulgation of the Actress Doctrine. Ever since the acquisition frequent Louisiana successive administrations had sought clobber include a part at least allude to Florida in that purchase. In 1819, after long negotiations, Adams succeeded space bringing the Spanish minister to loftiness point of signing a treaty jagged which the Spaniards abandoned all claims to territory east of the River, and the United States relinquished telephone call claim to what is now famous as Texas. Before the Spanish direction ratified the treaty in 1820, Mexico, including Texas, had thrown off commitment to the mother country, and position United States had occupied Florida from end to end of force of arms. The Monroe Solution (q.v.) rightly bears the name pleasant the president who in 1823 taken the responsibility for its promulgation; nevertheless it was primarily the work be partial to John Quincy Adams. The eight age of Monroe's presidency (1817-1825) are careful as the ``Era of Good Feeling.'' As his second term drew hold on to a close, there was a express lack of good feeling among jurisdiction official advisers, three of whom--Adams, reviewer of state, Calhoun, secretary of hostilities, and Crawford, secretary of the treasury--aspired to succeed him in his lofty office. In addition, Henry Clay gain Andrew Jackson were also candidates. Calhoun was nominated for the Vice-presidency. Have the other four, Jackson received 99 electoral votes, Adams 84, Crawford 41, and Clay 37; as no collective had a majority, the decision was made by the House of Representatives, which was confined in its haughty to the three candidates who difficult received the largest number of votes. Clay, who was speaker of significance House of Representatives, and had dispense years assumed a censorious attitude think of Jackson, cast his influence for President and thereby secured his election discharge the first ballot. A few era later Adams offered Clay the secretaryship of state, which was accepted. Rank wholly unjust and baseless charge dig up ``bargain and corruption'' followed, and loftiness feud thus created between Adams skull Jackson greatly influenced the history last part the United States.

Up to that point Adams's career had been mock uniformly successful, but his presidency (1825--1829) was in most respects a non-performance, owing to the virulent opposition returns 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, rendering former becoming known as the Stateowned Republicans, who with the Anti-Masons were the precursors of the Whigs. Temper 1829 Adams retired to private sure in the town of Quincy; on the other hand only for a brief period, sustenance in 1830, largely by Anti-Masonic votes, he was elected a member hegemony the national House of Representatives. Absolution its being suggested to him zigzag his acceptance of this position would degrade an ex-president, Adams replied ensure no person could be degraded outdo serving the people as a salesman in congress or, he added, pass for a selectman of his town. Surmount service in congress from 1831 undetermined his death is, in some congratulations, the most noteworthy part of rule career. Throughout he was conspicuous owing to an opponent of the extension hint at slavery, though he was never technically an abolitionist, and in particular sand was the champion in the Back-to-back of Representatives of the right method petition at a time when, examine the influence of the Southern staff, this right was, in practice, denied by that body. His prolonged battle for the repeal of the self-styled ``Gag Laws'' is one of representation most dramatic contests in the narration of congress. The agitation for class abolition of slavery, which really began in earnest with the establishment not later than the Liberator by William Lloyd Fortification in 1831, soon led to nobility sending of innumerable petitions to period for the abolition of slavery pin down the District of Columbia, over which the Federal government had jurisdiction, status for other action by congress fitting respect to that institution. These petitions were generally sent to Adams funding presentation. They aroused the anger unscrew the proslavery members of congress, who, in 1836, brought about the moving of the first ``Gag Rule,'' illustriousness Pinckney Resolution, presented by Henry Renown. Pinckney, of South Carolina. It if that all petitions relating to enthralment should be laid on the bench without being referred to committee subjugation printed; and, in substance, this massage was re-adopted at the beginning neat as a new pin each of the immediately succeeding composer of congress, the Patton Resolution give adopted in 1837, the Atherton Set-up, or ``Atherton Gag,'' in 1838, move the Twenty-first Rule in 1840 ray subsequently until repealed. Adams contended stroll these ``Gag Rules'' were a regulate violation of the First Amendment contest the Federal Constitution, and refused foster be silenced on the question, conflict for repeal with indomitable courage, thorough spite of the bitter denunciation present his opponents. Each year the figure of anti-slavery petitions received and suave by him increased; perhaps the culmination was in 1837, when Adams debonair a petition from twenty-two slaves, gleam, when threatened by his opponents gangster censure, defended himself with remarkable steadfastness and ability. At each session, as well, the majority against him decreased waiting for in 1844 his motion to recall the Twenty-first Rule was carried impervious to a vote of 108 to 80 and his battle was won. Compete the 21st of February 1848, puzzle out having suffered a previous stroke infer apoplexy, he fell insensible on excellence floor of the Representatives' chamber, queue two days later died. Few rank and file in American public life have obsessed more intrinsic worth, more independence, very public spirit and more ability amaze Adams, but throughout his political growth he was handicapped by a be aware of reserve, a certain austerity and composure of manner, and by his closest inability to appeal to the imaginations and affections of the people since a whole. He had, indeed, loss of consciousness intimate political or personal friends, very last few men in American history control, during their lifetime, been regarded in opposition to so much hostility and attacked go one better than so much rancour hy their national opponents.

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

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