J. Q. ADAMS'S ADMINISTRATION, WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. 1825-1829. ONE TERM-FOUR YEARS. ELECTED BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. The sixth President of the United States, was John Quincy Adams. He was the son of John Adams, the second President, and was born in his father's mansion, in the city of Boston, although the family seat was in the present town of Quincy, Massachusetts, on the 11th day of July 1767. At the age of eleven years, he embarked for France with his father and remained there several months. He subsequently visited Holland, and in 1781, went with Mr. Dana (who had been appointed minister) to Russia as his private secretary and remained there eighteen months. From 1783, to 1785, he was with his father in England, Holland, and France. He returned to the United States in 1785, entered Harvard College, and graduated in 1787. He then commenced the study of law at Newburyport under Mr. Theophilus Parsons, and after completing his studies, commenced the practice of his 132 JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. profession in Boston, devoting his leisure time in writing and publishing a series of tracts, and other papers, on the great political questions of the day. In 1794, General Washington appointed him Minister Resident to the Netherlands, where he remained for two years. He was afterwards appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to Portugal, but on his way there, received an appointment transferring him to Lisbon, where he remained till 1801. Mr. Adams was a moderate Federalist, and in 1803, was elected a Senator of the United States but not by a party vote. He supported Mr. Jefferson in such measures as his judgment approved. He was appointed one of the commissioners, by whom the treaty of peace was negotiated, between Great Britain and the United States at Ghent, in 1814. In 1815, he was appointed by Mr. Madison, Minister to Great Britain, where he remained about two years, he was then recalled by Mr. Monroe, and appointed by him, Secretary of State, which office he filled for eight years. The canditates put in nomination to succeed Mr. Monroe, were General Jackson, Henry Clay, William H. Crawford and Mr. Adams. No choice was effected by the Electoral Colleges, by reason of there being so many in nomination, but General Jackson received the greatest number of votes. The election was thereupon referred to the House of Representatives, and on the first ballot, Mr. Adams received the vote of thirteen States and was elected. His inauguration took place on the 4th of March, 1825. John C. Calhoun was made VicePresident. In May 1797, Mr. Adams was married to Louisa Catherine Johnson, daughter of Joshua Johnson of Maryland, who then resided in London. By this lady, he had four children, of whom, only one, Mr. Charles F. Adams of Boston, is now living. On the twenty-second of Februry, 1848, this most accomplished scholar and statesman was prostrated by paralysis, while in his seat in the House of Representatives, and breathed his last on the following day. He died in the Speaker's room, in the Capitol, being in his eighty-first year. His dying words were "This is the last of earth.” |