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John Q. Adams. Image by Library of Congress-

Top 10 Facts about John Quincy Adams

John Quincy Adams was born on July 11, 1767, in Braintree, Massachusetts. He was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, and diarist. He served as the sixth president of the United States, from 1825 to 1829.

He left a promising career in law and entered politics. He was appointed as an ambassador and served as a high-ranking diplomat in two regimes.

He competed in the 1824 presidential election. No candidate won a majority of electoral votes. The House of Representatives held a contingent election. He won with the support of Speaker of the House, Clay.

As president, Congress refused to pass many of his initiatives. The Democrats proved to be more effective political organizers. Jackson defeated him in the 1828 presidential election. He became the second president to fail to win re-election after his father.

He did not retire from public service. He won the election to the House of Representatives. He served there from 1831 until he died in 1848.

1. Quincy was the son of the 2^nd President

U. S. President John Adams Unknown author –

He was the eldest son of John Adams and First Lady Abigail Adams. His father had served as the second president of the United States from 1797 to 1801.

This makes him the first former president’s son. His career was quite familiar to his father. He worked as a secretary to his father while in Europe. Europe is where he got to spend most of his youth.

His father pretty much shaped him to follow him in his footsteps. He would have preferred a legal career but was gently swayed into joining politics. This turned out to be a great idea because hey, he ended up as President!

2. Quincy started a diary when he was 12 years till his death

First known photograph of a US president, a daguerreotype of President John Quincy Adams. Image by Cassowary Colorizations

Quincy grew up in the care of his mother. His father was frequently absent due to his work. However, he kept close tabs on his son. He would encourage him to read and even translate certain books. He soon exhibited literary skills, and in 1779 he started a diary.  

Throughout his life, he kept a series of small manuscript volumes. Here he would describe both daily activities and notable events in his life. Entries included his life at Harvard when he worked as a teacher and as a lawyer.

Even with all these notable experiences jotted down in a diary, none was recovered in his time as president.

3. He was robbed of the dowry promised

John Quincy Adams. Image by Popular Graphic Arts –

He met Louisa Catherine Johnson in London. They got engaged. His parents were not happy with the engagement. They argued that she was not up to his standard as she had grown up in England.

He was however determined and in love. He stood up to his parents and refused to cancel the engagement. They got married in 1797. In that era girls, paid a dowry to the boy. Quincy’s father-in-law, Joshua Johnson, promised him that the dowry would be paid.

Owe onto him, Joshua was in trouble with creditors. He took off to escape his creditors.  Quincy did not receive the dowry.  Louisa was very much embarrassed but as noted in his diary, he had no regrets.

4. Quincy was a lawyer who never went to law school

Quincy was very educated. He studied law, French, Greek, and Latin, and attended several prestigious schools. He and his family returned to the United States. This was to enable him to complete his education and eventually enter politics.

He joined Harvard, passed, and graduated. It was common in those days not to attend a law school. That is what Quincy did. He went straight to being an apprenticeship for the great Theophilus Parsons.

In this, he joins the many historical figures who were lawyers, including Alexander Hamilton and Abraham Lincoln, both of whom also never attended law school.

5. He suffered a stroke on the House floor and died shortly after

Death of John Quincy Adams. Image by N. Currier (Firm) –

He was aged 78 when he suffered a stroke while on the House floor. He was in the middle of a debate about the Mexican-American War.  He recovered but was left partially paralyzed.  A few months later he was back at it.

Two years later, he collapsed on the floor of the House. Members carried him to the Speaker’s room for some fresh air. He gathered some strength and thanked the members for their act.

He shortly fell into a coma and died two days later. Most of his life he had spent in service of his country. He was buried next to his parents and wife at First Â鶹APPh Church in Quincy

6. Quincy loved to skinny dip

John Quincy Adams. Image by Eggishorn –

Quincy enjoyed swimming. He would leave his clothes at a rock and plunge in. This was a norm at the time. He enjoyed this exercise as early as 4 a.m. to 6 a.m.

It was his primary source of exercise. This was found jotted in his diary that he found conducive to health, cleanliness, and comfort. His favorite place to swim was at the Potomac River for one or two hours.

Several times the tide would almost wash away his clothes. One time on a trip in a rickety boat, with his son and servant, they almost drowned. The plan was to swim on their way back. Luckily no one was hurt.

7. His niece seduced all his sons

Quincy had three sons. Unfortunately, two were a bit disappointments and one a success. He and his wife Louisa took in her orphaned niece. This girl was one flirtatious one. Her name was Mary Hellen.

She ended up sleeping with all three sons. She dumped Charles Francis and George for John. She was strategic. She rejected George, an alcoholic who ended up committing suicide. John seemed promising enough but failed at business, fell into debt and despair, and died of alcoholism at 33.

Woe onto her, she did not choose Charles Francis. He grew into a renowned historian, statesman, and author.

8. Quincy was the first president to be interviewed by a woman

Quincy was following his normal early morning routine at the Potomac River according to one apocryphal story. He was ambushed by one Anne Royall. She was a travel writer and publisher. She had a strategy of charging $5 for subscriptions. She treated customers gently but greatly criticized her non-subscribers.

Fortunately for John Quincy Adams, he paid her $5 when he met her. He also told her to call on his wife and promised to get her a pension. She supposedly questioned him about sound money and the Bank of the United States.

9. Wore pants and his hair to his inauguration

John Quincy Adams. Image by George Caleb Bingham –

Quincy was a bit different from other politicians. He lacked the charm other politicians had. To them, he came across as unfriendly.

He had traveled greatly, was intelligent, and very sophisticated. Nevertheless, he had very simple tastes. In a city beaming with extravagant and refined foods, he often dined on crackers.

It was no surprise then when he showed up for his inauguration ceremony in a black, homespun suit with full-length pants. The common most normal thing would be to wear knee breeches. To top it off he did not wear a powdered wig!

10. Quincy is the best Secretary of State in US history

John Quincy Adams, U.S. Secretary of State, September 22, 1817 to March 3, 1825
U.S. Department of State from United States – Wikimedia

He was appointed as the secretary of state by President James Monroe in 1897. He helped negotiate a treaty. It helped in the acquisition of Florida. He also helped formulate the Monroe Doctrine. This became a key tenet of U.S. foreign policy.

He also helped negotiate the Treaty of Ghent, which ended the War of 1812. He also worked with the British to establish the border between British Canada and the United States. He negotiated the annexation of Florida from Spain.

Many thought he would be a successor to Monroe but the days of a President heir were long gone.