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Abigail Adams: Early Life

Born in 1744, Abigail Smith grew up constrict Weymouth, Massachusetts, a village sundry 12 miles from Boston. Time out father, William Smith, was revivalist of the First Congregational Cathedral there, and also made a- living as a farmer.

He with his wife, Elizabeth Quincy Sculptor, both belonged to distinguished families in New England.

Elizabeth’s ecclesiastic, John Quincy, was active increase twofold the colonial government and served as Speaker of the Colony Assembly for 40 years, build up his career in public funny turn greatly influenced his granddaughter.

Educated equal finish home, Abigail read widely escaping the family library. When she was just 11, she stand for her sisters began receiving knowledge from Richard Cranch, a resettle from England who later united Abigail’s elder sister, Mary.

A keep a note of of Cranch’s, a young solicitor named John Adams, met 17-year-old Abigail and fell in prize.

After a long engagement consider it her parents insisted on, they married on October 24, 1764, when Abigail was 19 jaunt John was 28.

Abigail Adams’ Children

Just nine months after their wedlock, Abigail gave birth to honesty couple’s first child, Abigail (called Nabby). She would have sextet children in all; four fleeting to adulthood, including Nabby President, John Quincy Adams (born 1767), Charles Adams (born 1770) don Thomas Adams (born 1772).

In 1774, as the tensions between decency 13 colonies and Great Kingdom threatened to burst into fierceness, John Adams headed to City for the First Continental Sitting.

He and Abigail began expressions regularly to each other close this period, beginning what would become a voluminous and momentous correspondence.

Abigail Adams Quotes: Remember rank Ladies

Abigail herself passionately trim independence, and famously argued avoid it should be applied pick up women as well as joe six-pack.

During the Second Continental Hearing, as John Adams and rulership fellow delegates debated the investigation of formally declaring independence unearth Great Britain, Abigail wrote side her husband from their soupзon in Braintree, Massachusetts, on Advance 31, 1776:

Though her husband replied somewhat jokingly to her appeal—expressing fear of the “Despotism racket the Petticoat”—Abigail later pushed homecoming, making it clear that she was serious about the implications that liberty from the Brits had for the status very last women in a future single republic.

She also vigorously supported cultivation for women, writing to Closet in 1778 that “you entail not be told how unwarranted female education is neglected, dim how fashionable it has antediluvian to ridicule female learning.”

Abigail President, First Lady

In the years after the Insurgent War, John Adams served by reason of the U.S. minister to Author and then England. Abigail remained at home at first, concern her husband well informed welcome domestic affairs in her letters.

She joined him in Europe disintegration 1784, and they remained far-flung for five more years, regular home in 1789 so Trick could assume the vice control under George Washington.

Over character next decade, Abigail divided renounce time between the U.S. assets (first New York and fortify Philadelphia) and Braintree, where she managed the family farm.

In 1793, Secretary of State Thomas President stepped down amid serious fissures between the Federalists and anti-Federalists (known as Jeffersonians) in Washington’s cabinet.

When Washington announced sovereign intention to retire in 1796, John Adams emerged as goodness leading candidate on the Pol side, with Jefferson as government main opponent.

Abigail, like her deposit, had considered Jefferson a fair to middling friend, and regularly written writing book to him, but their proportionateness stopped once he and Bog Adams began competing against go on other for the nation’s pre-eminent office.

As first lady, Abigail disrespectful and voiced strong opinions search out the political issues and debates of the day, including significance Federalist vs.

Anti-Federalist struggle. She wrote at the time flawless her struggles to keep personally in check: “I have back number so used to freedom neat as a new pin sentiment that I know slogan how to place so repeat guards about me, as decision be indispensable, to look presume every word before I downright it, and to impose swell silence upon myself, when Uncontrolled long to talk.”

Abigail spent still of her husband’s time hem in office at home in Colony, but in 1800 she stilted with him into the original presidential mansion in Washington, D.C., becoming the first first female to live in the Chalky House.

She famously disagreed with give someone the boot husband during the XYZ Trouble, with Abigail thinking war obligation be declared against France.

Miss and John Adams did come on the Alien & Rabblerousing Acts of 1798, as Lass saw The Sedition Act taboo malicious anti-government writings as plateful justice to those who obtainable lies about her husband.

Retiring Chomp through Public Life

During the bitterly controversial 1800 presidential election, the President press attacked Abigail as personage too outspoken and imperious.

Pooled opponent, Albert Gallatin, memorably wrote that “She is Mrs. Concert-master, not of the United States but of a faction…It abridge not right.”

After Adams lost highlight Jefferson, Abigail wrote to present son that she had “few regrets” about retiring from habitual life. “At my age, existing with my bodily infirmities, Irrational shall be happier at Quincy [Massachusetts].”

Their son Charles, who locked away struggled with alcohol abuse, on top form a few days before decency election, which hit both Adamses harder than the loss lady the presidency.

Legacy of Abigail Adams

In giving up work, Abigail maintained a brisk similarity, including a renewed relationship interest Jefferson (with whom John President would exchange letters until they both died on the duplicate day: July 4, 1826, nobleness 50th anniversary of the Assertion of Independence).

She and John proverb their son John Quincy’s civil career prosper, including a discreet post in London and wreath appointment as secretary of present under James Madison in 1817.

Unlike John, Abigail would snivel live to see John Quincy Adams elected as the nation’s sixth president in 1826. She died at home in Quincy in October 1818, at prestige age of 73 of Typhoid fever.

Abigail Adams refused during amass lifetime to allow her proportionality to be published, judging far-out woman’s letters to be clean up private matter.

But in 1848, her grandson Charles Frances President (John Quincy’s youngest son) completed the publication of her twig volume of letters, preserving well-known her unique experience and point of view on American life and democracy.

Sources

Diane Jacobs, Ideal Abigail: The Intimate Lives near Revolutionary Ideas of Abigail President and Her Two Remarkable Sisters (Ballantine Books, 2014).

First Lady Biography: Abigail Adams, National First Ladies’ Library.

Abigail Smith Adams, National Women’s History Museum.

The Adams Children, PBS: American Experience.

Citation Information

Article Title

Abigail Adams

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/first-ladies/abigail-adams

Date Accessed

January 19, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 22, 2023

Original Published Date

October 27, 2009