John Adams

***John Adams***

**John Adams** was the First Vice President of the United States. Adams is also remembered as a skilled Minister to both Great Britain and the Netherlands, as well as a Founding Father, being a member of the Continental Congress and a few of it's committees. John Adams was also an important American Revolution leader, speaking out against the Crown several times before and during the Revolutionary War.

## Early Life

Born in Braintree, Massachusetts on October 30, 1735, Adams was the eldest son of John Adams Sr. and Susana Boylston. Adams had two younger brothers, Peter and Elihu, and he and his father had a close relationship, Adams often looked back on it with fondness.

Adams especially made a name for himself in law, where Adams became a local leading figure against the Stamp Act. Regardless of those beliefs though, in 1770 following the Boston Massacre, Adams would provide them counsel, winning the case and angering many revolutionaries. Adams' cousin, Samuel Adams, had been a leader of the Boston Tea Party, and with his influence John turned into more of a revolutionary, even being appointed to the Continental Congress.

## Continental Congress (1774-1777)

Adams had been radicalized by the time he entered the Congress, openly calling for independence with his cousin, but nevertheless it was slow to come. And even before it was agreed on, impatient Adams called together a Committee of Five, which consisted of himself, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman. The Committee had originally wanted Adams to write the Declaration of Independence, but Adams convinced them to choose Jefferson, because in his own words Adams said, "I am obnoxious, suspected, and unpopular." Jefferson would end up writing the Declaration, one of the most important documents in the history of the nation.

Adams held the record for biggest workload of the Congress, sitting in 90 committees of which he chaired 25 over his stay in office. And when he became Chair of the Board of War and Ordinance, his workload skyrocketed, with him doing 18 hour days regularly, and corresponding with tons of high ranking officers, even laying out the groundworks for a treaty with France. Adams would also meet with General Howe of the British to discuss terms with him, but was so unimpressed that the talks went no where.

## Vice Presidency

Adams reportedly though the Vice Presidential position was incredibly boring, being incredible irritated with the lack of abilities the position came with. Adams, a very opiniated man, unable to voice his opinion felt incredibly constricted.

## Family

John Adams married Abigail Smith in 1764, with them having 6 total children together: Abigail in 1765; John Quincy in 1767; Susanna in 1768, who died at age 1; Charles in 1770; Thomas in 1772; and Elizabeth in 1777, who was stillborn. All three sons became lawyers and graduated for Harvard, Abigail went on to marry here fathers Secretary, William Stephens Smith.

* Abigail Adams Smith (Born: July 14, 1765)
* John Quincy Adams (Born: July 11, 1767)
* Susanna Adams (1768-1769)
* Charles Adams (Born: May 29, 1770)
* Thomas Boylston Adams (Born: September 15, 1772)
* Elizabeth Adams (1777)