Adams

JOHN, (ad'amz,) the 2d President of the U. States, B. in Brain tree, Ma ., 1735. He graduated at Harvard College, 1755; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1758; took a leading part in the agitation commenced against the Stamp Act, 1765; and soon became distinguished as one of the most prominent and intrepid advocates of the popular cause. In 1774, A. was chosen one of the 5 delegates from Ma . to the Continental Congre , held in Philadelphia, where he played a prominent part in the declaration of colonial rights. In 1775, he became a member of the 2d Continental Congre at Philadelphia, and was the first to propose Gen. Washington as commander-in-chief of the army. He advocated and seconded the Declaration of Independence drawn up by Jefferson, and pa ed on the 4th of July, 1776. In 1780, he represented the U. States in Holland, and in 1782, co-operated with Franklin, Jay, and Laurens, in negotiating a treaty with Great Britain. He was minister at London from May, 1785, until the spring of 1788. In 1787, A. was elected Vice President of the U. States, and reëlected to the same office in 1792. in 1797, he succeeded Washington in the presidential chair, and at the close of his official term, having been defeated by a majority of 8 votes in favor of Jefferson, he retired from public life. D. at Quincy, July 4, 1826.- ADAMS, JOHN QUINCY, eldest son of the preceding. and 6th President of the U. States, B. 1767, graduated at Harvard College, 1788, studied law, and was admitted to the bar, 1791. In 1794he was appointed minister to Holland; and minister to Berlin in 1797. He was elected a senator of the U. States in 1803, and was appointed profe or of rhetoric and belles his political friends, the Federalists, by supporting Jef ferson's Embargo acts, A. resigned his seat in the U. S. senate in 1808, and thus became connected with the Democratic party. On the election of Madison to the presidency, A. was nominated minister to Ru ia, where he was well received. His most important work was the negotiation of peace with England, coöperating with J. Ru ell and H. Clay in effecting the Treaty of Ghent, 1814. In 1815, he was appointed minister to the court ofSt. James, and was recalled in 1817, in order to fill the post of Secretary of State under Madison. In 1825, he was elected President of the Union. At the election of 1828, he was defeated by Gen. Jackson, and retired to his estate at Quincy. In 1830, he was elected to Congre , where he continued to represent his native district till his death, in Feb., 1848. ADAMS, CHARLES FRANCIS, son of the foregoing, B. in Boston, 1807, graduated at Harvard College, 1825, studied law in the office of Daniel Webster, and was admitted to the Boston bar in 1828. A. represented Ma . in the 36th and 37th Congre . In 1861, he was appointed minister to Great Britain, and resigned about Feb., 1868, after having rendered eminent services to his country. He edited and published the Life and Works of John Adams (10 vols., 1850-56), and Life and Letters of J. Q. Adams (1874-75). [s. 8]