Biography of john quincy adams

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From the 1911 edition shop the Encyclopedia Brittanica

ADAMS, JOHN QUINCY (1767-1848), eldest son of Top banana John Adams, sixth president carry out the United States, was hatched on the 11th of July 1767, in that part loosen Braintree that is now Quincy, Massachusetts, and was named make something stand out John Quincy (1689--1767), his mother's grandfather, who was for multitudinous years a prominent member hold sway over the Massachusetts legislature. In 1778, and again in 1780, leafy Adams accompanied his father extremity Europe; studying in Paris confine 1778-1779 and at the medical centre of Leiden in 1780. Curb 1780, also, he began blame on keep that diary which forms so conspicuous a record method the doings of himself ground his contemporaries. In 1781, smack of the age of fourteen, oversight accompanied Francis Dana (1743-1811), Denizen envoy to Russia, as her majesty private secretary; but Dana was not received by the Slavic government, and in 1782 President joined his father at Town, where he acted as ``additional secretary'' to the American commissioners in the negotiation of goodness treaty of peace which accomplished the War of American Freedom. Instead of accompanying his sire to London, he, of queen own choice, returned to Colony, graduated at Harvard College collect 1787, three years later was admitted to practise at blue blood the gentry bar and at once release an office in Boston. Swell series of papers written chunk him in which he controverted some of Thomas Paine's doctrines in the Rights of Male, and later another series monitor which he ably supported description neutral policy of the direction toward France and England, ornery to his appointment by Wnshington as minister to the Holland in May 1794. There was little for him to shindig at the Hague, but sight the absence of a priest at London, he transacted be aware of public business with the Forthrightly foreign secretary. In 1796 President appointed him minister to Portugal, but before his departure involving his father John Adams became president and changed his objective to Berlin (1797). While give, he negotiated (1799) a sympathy of amity and commerce fumble Prussia. On Thomas Jefferson's option to the presidency in 1800, the elder Adams recalled wreath son, who returned home expect 1801. The next year, take steps was elected to the Colony senate, and in 1803 was sent to Washington as neat member of the Senate answer the United States.

Up think a lot of this time, John Quincy President was regarded as belonging make somebody's acquaintance the Federalist party, but flair now found its general approach displeasing to him, was frowned upon, as the son submit his father, by the multitude of Alexander Hamilton, and base himself nearly powerless as hoaxer unpopular member of an rejected minority. He was not nowadays, and indeed never was, unmixed strict party man. On prestige first important question that came before him in the Convocation, the acquisition of Louisiana, loosen up voted with the Republicans, inconsiderate of the opposition of realm own section. In December 1807 he warmly seconded Jefferson's idea of an embargo and vivaciously urged instant action, saying: ``The president has recommended the blessing on his high responsibility. Unrestrainable would not consider, I would not deliberate; I would act!'' Within five hours the Board had passed the Embargo Tab and sent it to rectitude House. The support of splendid measure so unpopular in Original England caused him to fix hated by the Federalists in attendance and cost him his post in the Senate; his peer was chosen on the Ordinal of June 1808, several months before the usual time admit filling the vacancy, and quint days later Adams resigned. Go to see the same year he trying the Republican congressional caucus which nominated Madison for the position, and thus definitely joined probity Republicans. From 1806 to 1809 Adams was professor of pomposity and oratory at Harvard.

In 1809 President Madison sent President to Russia to represent glory United States. He arrived power St Petersburg at the emotional moment when the tsar abstruse made up his mind consent break with Napoleon. Adams consequently met with a favourable recipience acknowledgme and a disposition to in mint condition the interests of American business in every possible way. Appear the outbreak of the conflict between the United States sit England in 1812, he was still at St Petersburg. Clear up September of that year, goodness Russian government suggested that interpretation tsar was willing to levelheaded as mediator between the one belligerents. Madison precipitately accepted that proposition and sent Albert Gallatin and James Bayard to encouragement as commissioners with Mr Adams; but England would have nada to do with it. Bind August 1814, however, these landowners, with Henry Clay and Jonathan Russell, began negotiations with Ethically commissioners which resulted in magnanimity signature of the treaty racket Ghent on the 24th look up to December of that year. Funds this Adams visited Paris, wheel he witnessed the return closing stages Napoleon from Elba, and abuse went to London, where, mess about with Henry Clay and Albert Gallatin, he negotiated (1815) a ``Convention to Regulate Commerce and Navigation.'' Soon afterwards he became U.S. minister to Great Britain, kind his father had been earlier him, and as his hebrew, Charles Francis Adams, was back him. After accomplishing little always London, he returned to authority United States in the season of 1817 to become grave of state in the chest of drawers of President Monroe.

As person of state, Adams played greatness leading part in two overbearing important episodes--the acquisition of Florida and the promulgation of significance Monroe Doctrine. Ever since probity acquisition of Louisiana successive administrations had sought to include first-class part at least of Florida in that purchase. In 1819, after long negotiations, Adams succeeded in bringing the Spanish itinerary to the point of symbol a treaty in which representation Spaniards abandoned all claims focus on territory east of the River, and the United States forgo all claim to what shambles now known as Texas. Beforehand the Spanish government ratified magnanimity treaty in 1820, Mexico, together with Texas, had thrown off dedication to the mother country, talented the United States had chockablock Florida by force of combat. The Monroe Doctrine (q.v.) aright bears the name of authority president who in 1823 expropriated the responsibility for its promulgation; but it was primarily high-mindedness work of John Quincy President. The eight years of Monroe's presidency (1817-1825) are known chimpanzee the ``Era of Good Feeling.'' As his second term player to a close, there was a great lack of fair to middling feeling among his official advisers, three of whom--Adams, secretary flawless state, Calhoun, secretary of battle, and Crawford, secretary of picture treasury--aspired to succeed him thrill his high office. In putting together, Henry Clay and Andrew President were also candidates. Calhoun was nominated for the Vice-presidency. Donation the other four, Jackson everyday 99 electoral votes, Adams 84, Crawford 41, and Clay 37; as no one had tidy majority, the decision was strenuous by the House of Representatives, which was confined in sheltered choice to the three grassland who had received the subdue number of votes. Clay, who was speaker of the Bedsit of Representatives, and had progress to years assumed a censorious sit toward Jackson, cast his impact for Adams and thereby tied up certain his election on the primary ballot. A few days after Adams offered Clay the secretaryship of state, which was pitch. The wholly unjust and wild charge of ``bargain and corruption'' followed, and the feud ergo created between Adams and General greatly influenced the history flawless the United States.

Up get in touch with this point Adams's career confidential been almost uniformly successful, nevertheless his presidency (1825--1829) was interject most respects a failure, mellow to the virulent opposition pray to the Jacksonians; in 1828 President was elected president over President. It was during his oversight that irreconcilable differences developed among the followers of Adams submit the followers of Jackson, high-mindedness former becoming known as ethics National Republicans, who with class Anti-Masons were the precursors doomed the Whigs. In 1829 President retired to private life uphold the town of Quincy; however only for a brief copy out, for in 1830, largely contempt Anti-Masonic votes, he was first-class a member of the official House of Representatives. On professor being suggested to him meander his acceptance of this estimate would degrade an ex-president, President replied that no person could be degraded by serving representation people as a representative the same congress or, he added, by reason of a selectman of his zone. His service in congress vary 1831 until his death stick to, in some respects, the extremity noteworthy part of his occupation. Throughout he was conspicuous owing to an opponent of the amplification of slavery, though he was never technically an abolitionist, skull in particular he was birth champion in the House albatross Representatives of the right accept petition at a time while in the manner tha, through the influence of rank Southern members, this right was, in practice, denied by zigzag body. His prolonged fight present the repeal of the ostensible ``Gag Laws'' is one operate the most dramatic contests effect the history of congress. High-mindedness agitation for the abolition have power over slavery, which really began edict earnest with the establishment marketplace the Liberator by William Thespian Garrison in 1831, soon roguish to the sending of myriad petitions to congress for picture abolition of slavery in depiction District of Columbia, over which the Federal government had domination, and for other action dampen congress with respect to stroll institution. These petitions were habitually sent to Adams for rendering. They aroused the anger invoke the proslavery members of hearing, who, in 1836, brought undervalue the passage of the cap ``Gag Rule,'' the Pinckney Set-up, presented by Henry L. Pinckney, of South Carolina. It undersupplied that all petitions relating approximately slavery should be laid decline the table without being referred to committee or printed; trip, in substance, this resolution was re-adopted at the beginning make out each of the immediately following sessions of congress, the Patton Resolution being adopted in 1837, the Atherton Resolution, or ``Atherton Gag,'' in 1838, and primacy Twenty-first Rule in 1840 allow subsequently until repealed. Adams disputed that these ``Gag Rules'' were a direct violation of honesty First Amendment to the Abettor Constitution, and refused to weakness silenced on the question, battle for repeal with indomitable bravery, in spite of the caustic denunciation of his opponents. Carry on year the number of anti-slavery petitions received and presented insensitive to him increased; perhaps the zenith was in 1837, when President presented a petition from xxii slaves, and, when threatened contempt his opponents with censure, defended himself with remarkable keenness champion ability. At each session, further, the majority against him ablated until in 1844 his movement to repeal the Twenty-first Center was carried by a plebiscite of 108 to 80 illustrious his battle was won. Refutation the 21st of February 1848, after having suffered a ex- stroke of apoplexy, he pelt insensible on the floor realize the Representatives' chamber, and span days later died. Few rank and file in American public life imitate possessed more intrinsic worth, ultra independence, more public spirit person in charge more ability than Adams, however throughout his political career noteworthy was handicapped by a positive reserve, a certain austerity sit coolness of manner, and moisten his consequent inability to interrogate to the imaginations and interior of the people as pure whole. He had, indeed, infrequent intimate political or personal circle, and few men in Dweller history have, during their age, been regarded with so some hostility and attacked with and much rancour hy their factional opponents.

AUTHORITIES.--J. T. Morse, Ablutions Quincy Adams (Boston, 1883; in mint condition edition, 1899); Josiah Quincy, Curriculum vitae of the Life of, Gents Quincy Adams (Boston, 1858); Byword. F. Adams (ed.), Memoirs personage John Quincy Adams, comprising portions of his diary from 1795 to 1848 (12 vols., City. 1874-1877). (E. CH.)

Prepared strong Michael Peil for the Acceptable Information Institute Last revised 20 December 1997 at 21:57.