JOHN ADAMS: SECOND UNITED STATES PRESIDENT

The second president of the United States was John Adams, lawyer and diplomat. Adams’ public career lasted more than 35 years. He was second only to George Washington in making a place for the young United States among the nations of the world. In his devotion to the country, he was second to none.

Adams was a federalist. Like other federalists, he believed in a strong central government. However, he was independent and decided to issue for himself in the interests of his country and often against the interests of his party. He was defeated for a second term as president because he defied party to act for his vision of the nation’s good.

Adams was born on October 30, 1735 in Braintree(now Quincy), Mass. He was the eldest of three sons, children of John and Susanna Boylston Adams. He attended a “dame” school, a school conducted by a woman in her home.

When he was 29, he married Abigail Smith, a minister’s daughter. She was only 20 but she had schooled herself well in politics and literature.

They had four children; Abigail, John Quincy, Charles and Thomas.

Admas’ first political post came when he was appointed one of the town attorneys to argue the legality of the Stamp Act.

Adams died on July 4, 1826. Thomas Jefferson died the same day, a few hours earlier. Adams, who didn’t know this, murmured as he died, “Thomas Jefferson still lives.”

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• He Successfully Defended British soldiers involved in the Boston massacre

• Igniting the American revolution

• He was a leading member of the continental Congress

• Adams helped negotiate the 1783 treaty of Paris

• He served as U.S ambassador to Britain and Netherlands

• John Admas became the second President of U.S in 1797