John Adams was one of the most important United States Founding Fathers. He served as the first Vice President under George Washington and then became the second President of the United States. Adams was a fascinating and complex historical figure who led a long and eventful life. Here are some unusual and intriguing facts about John Adams:
1. Adams enjoyed toy boats, marbles, kites, hunting, and reading.
Adams enjoyed typical boyhood activities like playing with toy boats, marbles, and kites[1]. He also liked to go hunting and developed a lifelong love of reading from a young age. Adams grew up in a modest New England home and was a descendant of the Puritans who arrived in Massachusetts in the previous century[2].
2. Adams was the only non-Virginian of the first five presidents.
The first five presidents – George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe – were all from Virginia except for John Adams. He was born and raised in Braintree, Massachusetts[4]. This makes Adams stand out as the only early president who did not hail from the state of Virginia.
3. He was the first president to live in the White House.
When Washington, D.C. became the official capital city, John Adams was the first president to reside in the White House in 1800. This was near the end of his term as the second president. Adams only lived in the White House for a few months before Thomas Jefferson moved in after being elected president in 1801[6].
4. Adams was the only president of the first five not to be a slaveholder.
The other early presidents – Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe – all owned slaves. But John Adams did not believe in slavery and never owned slaves. His wife Abigail Adams was also famously against slavery[3]. However, Adams did not publicly advocate for the abolition of slavery during his lifetime.
5. He wrote thousands of love letters to his wife Abigail.
John Adams and his wife Abigail had an unusually close and affectionate marriage for their time. Throughout their 54 year marriage, Adams wrote over 1,100 letters to his beloved wife. These letters covered topics ranging from politics to family matters to expressions of love and friendship[1]. Many of Adams’ letters to Abigail are still preserved and give insight into their relationship.
6. Adams defended British soldiers after the Boston Massacre.
In 1770, when British soldiers shot into a crowd and killed five American colonists, Adams agreed to defend the British captain and soldiers. Many Americans wanted the soldiers punished, but Adams believed in due process and ensured they received a fair trial. His defense led to most of the soldiers being acquitted[2].
7. He was the first lawyer-president.
Adams studied law at Harvard and practiced as a lawyer for many years before entering politics. His legal background and experience later helped him draft important early documents like the Massachusetts Constitution. Adams was the first president to have a background as a lawyer[3].
8. He lived to the exceptional age of 90.
In the 18th and early 19th century, it was rare for people to live past 60 or 70 years old. But Adams remarkably lived to the age of 90, dying on July 4, 1826 – the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence[4].
9. Adams died on the same day as Thomas Jefferson.
In an amazing coincidence, John Adams passed away on the very same day as Thomas Jefferson – July 4, 1826. Jefferson also lived to be 83 years old. The two Founding Fathers and former presidents died hours apart on the 50th Independence Day[6].
10. He was the first president to have a child live in the White House.
When Adams and his wife moved into the newly built White House, they brought their son John Quincy Adams. At age 27, John Quincy was the first child of a president to take up residence in what would become known as the White House[5].
11. Adams did not attend Jefferson’s inauguration.
When Thomas Jefferson assumed the presidency after defeating Adams in the bitter election of 1800, Adams did not stay in Washington to attend Jefferson’s inauguration. Still stung by the negative campaign, Adams left the capital city in the early morning before the inauguration[5].
12. He wrote the oldest surviving presidential inaugural address.
The first inaugural address in U.S. history was given by George Washington in 1789. But the oldest full inaugural address still preserved today was written by John Adams in 1797. Adams’ address outlines his vision for a growing nation[5].
13. His last words were supposedly “Thomas Jefferson survives.”
It is reported that shortly before he died on July 4, 1826, John Adams uttered the words “Thomas Jefferson survives.” Adams was mistaken, because unknown to him, Jefferson had passed away just hours earlier the same day. Adams’ last words expressed his longtime friendship and rivalry with Jefferson[4].
14. He was strongly against slavery but did not abolish it.
Adams believed that slavery was an evil practice and described it as a “foul contagion in the human character”[3]. However, he never took action as president to abolish slavery, fearing that doing so would split the young nation. Adams felt ending slavery must be done cautiously over time.
15. He appointed John Marshall as Chief Justice.
As president, Adams appointed his Secretary of State John Marshall to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 1801. Marshall went on to become the longest-serving Chief Justice and helped establish the judiciary as an independent, co-equal branch of government[5].
In summary, John Adams led a remarkable life of triumphs and defeats. He helped birth a nation, shaped its highest offices, and left an indelible mark on American history. Adams was known for his intellect, passion, bluntness, and contradictions – making him one of the most fascinating Founding Fathers.
Citations:
[1] https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/john-adams
[2] https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/10-little-known-facts-about-the-ultimate-patriot-john-adams
[3] http://www.john-adams-heritage.com/facts/interesting-facts/
[4] https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/56841/25-facts-about-john-adams
[5] https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/john-adams/
[6] https://www.wvnstv.com/history/five-interesting-facts-about-president-john-adams/
