President John Adams
Compiled by D. A. Sharpe
President John Adams, the second President of the
United States, is the husband of Abigail Smith,
a 30th cousin, three times
removed to me. Refer to
Abigail's notes in this record for more details. Abigail also is the 13th
cousin, three times removed to our first President, General George Washington. Described another way, John Adams is
the husband of 10th cousin, Anna Tyng (1640 - 1709) -3x removed of husband
Ellen Newton of stepdaughter of 6th great granduncle of mine.
"Learned and thoughtful, John
Adams was more remarkable as a political philosopher than as a politician. ÔPeople
and nations are forged in the fires of adversity,Õ he said, doubtless thinking
of his own as well as the American experience.
"Adams was born in the
Massachusetts Bay Colony, Braintree, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, in 1735. A
Harvard-educated lawyer, he early became identified with the patriot cause; a
delegate to the First and Second Continental Congresses, he led in the movement
for independence.
"During the Revolutionary War,
he served in France and Holland in diplomatic roles, and helped negotiate the
treaty of peace. From 1785 to 1788 he was minister to the Court of St. James's,
returning to be elected Vice President under George Washington. On September 27,1779, Adams was named
to negotiate the Revolutionary War's peace terms with Britain.
"Adams' two terms as Vice
President were frustrating experiences for a man of his vigor, intellect, and
vanity. He complained to his wife, Abigail, ÔMy country has in its wisdom
contrived for me the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man
contrived or his imagination conceived.Õ
"When Adams became President,
the war between the French and British was causing great difficulties for the
United States on the high seas and intense partisanship among contending
factions within the Nation.
"His administration focused on
France, where the Directory, the ruling group, had refused to receive the
American envoy and had suspended commercial relations.
"Adams sent three commissioners
to France, but in the spring of 1798 word arrived that the French Foreign
Minister Talleyrand and the Directory had refused to negotiate with them unless
they would first pay a substantial bribe.
Adams reported the insult to Congress, and the Senate printed the
correspondence, in which the Frenchmen were referred to only as "X, Y, and
Z.
"The Nation broke out into what
Jefferson called Ôthe X. Y. Z. fever,Õ increased in intensity by Adams's
exhortations. The populace
cheered itself hoarse wherever the President appeared. Never had the Federalists been so
popular.
"Congress appropriated money to
complete three new frigates and to build additional ships, and authorized the
raising of a provisional army. It also passed the Alien and Sedition Acts,
intended to frighten foreign agents out of the country and to stifle the
attacks of Republican editors.
"President Adams did not call
for a declaration of war, but hostilities began at sea. At first, American
shipping was almost defenseless against French privateers, but by 1800 armed
merchantmen and U.S. warships were clearing the sea-lanes.
"Despite several brilliant naval victories, war
fever subsided. Word came to Adams
that France also had no stomach for war and would receive an envoy with
respect. Long negotiations ended the quasi war.
"Sending a peace mission to
France brought the full fury of the Hamiltonians against Adams. In the campaign of 1800 the Republicans
were united and effective, the Federalists badly divided. Nevertheless, Adams polled only a few
less electoral votes than Jefferson, who became President.
"On November 1, 1800, just before
the election, Adams arrived in the new Capital City to take up his residence in
the White House. On his second evening in its damp, unfinished rooms, he wrote
his wife, 'Before I end my letter, I pray Heaven to bestow the best of
Blessings on this House and all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise Men ever
rule under this roof.'
"Adams retired to his farm in
Quincy. Here he penned his
elaborate letters to Thomas Jefferson. Here
on July 4, 1826, he whispered his last words:
'Thomas Jefferson survives.' But
Jefferson had died at Monticello a few hours earlier."
Source:http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/ja2.html
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were
the only two signers of the Declaration of Independence who later became a
President of the United States.
They each died on the same day, July 4, 1826, exactly 50 years after
they signed the Declaration of Independence. Adams ran against Thomas Jefferson for
President and won by three electoral college votes. The second time
Adams ran for President, he lost to Jefferson.
Adams was the first President to
live in the White House. At the
time, it was called the ÒPresidentÕs House.Ó It became known as the White House,
because of its color. The name became
official in 1901.
John Adams had a strong view of the value
of the Bible:
ÒSuppose a nation in some distant region
should take the Bible for their only law book and every member should regulate
his conduct by the precepts there exhibited É What a Utopia --- what a Paradise
would this region be. The Bible is
the best book in the world.Ó
Source: John Adams, ÒThe Works of John Adams,Ó ed Charles Francis Adams (Boston: Charles Little and James
Brow, 1850), Vol II, pages 6-7, diary entry for February 22, 1726 AND Adams, ÒThe
works of John Adams,Ó Vol. X, page 85, Letter to Thomas Jefferson on December
25, 1813.
Genealogical
Relationship Chart of John Adams to D. A. Sharpe
Dwight Albert (D. A.) Sharpe
805 Derting Road East
Aurora, TX 76078-3712
817-504-6508
Here I am
with United States Ambassador to NATO, Kay Bailey Hutchison, who at the time of this photo was Texas
Senator Hutchison. We were enjoying
social life at the 2001 Texas State SocietyÕs Black Tie & Boots on the
evening prior to Inauguration of President George W. Bush. My wife, Suzanne, was on HutchisonÕs
Dallas County Election Committee in 1992 in HutchisonÕs first campaign for U.S.
Senate. Hutchison was the first woman elected to the United States Senate from
Texas.