Chronological events in the life of John Quincy Adams
1767
July 11: John Quincy Adams was born in Quincy, Massachusetts. His parents were second President of the United States, John Adams and Abigail Smith.
1778 to 1779
Eleven year old John Quincy traveled with John Adams to France where his father served as a diplomatic envoy. It took them six weeks on board of the Boston to cross the Atlantic.
Enrolled in L’Ecole de Mathematiques, a private academy.
Started entry in diary which was kept until 1848 before he died.
1780
Charles and John Quincy accompanied John Adams to the Netherlands to negotiated a loan.
Studied at the University of Leiden, Netherlands.
1781-1783
At age 14 and because of his fluency in French John Quincy traveled to St. Petersburg as secretary and translator for Francis Dana.
1783
Returned to Paris and served as secretary to his father.
1785
Returned to Boston and started his education in Harvard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
1787
John Quincy graduated from Harvard College with a Bachelor Degree in Arts.
1787-1789
He studied law with Theophilus Parsons in Newburyport, north of Boston.
1790
John Quincy earned his Master of Art degree from Harvard.
1791
He was admitted to the bar and started practicing law in Boston.
1794-1797
President George Washington appointed him Minister to the Netherlands.
1797
July 26: Married Louisa Catherine Johnson. British born, daughter of Joshua Johnson, American merchant and consul in 1790.
1797-1801
President John Adams appointed him Minister to Prussia.
1801
April 12: The couple had their first child, George Washington Adams, who died at age 28 of apparent suicide.
Elected to the Massachusetts Legislature.
1803
July 4: Second son, John Adams II was born. He died at age 31 from alcoholism.
1807
August 18: John Quincy and Louisa Catherine had their third child, Charles Francis Adams.
Appointed to the U.S. Senate
John Quincy switched allegiance from the Federalist Party to Democratic-Republican Party.
1809
President James Madison appointed him as the first U.S Minister to Russia.
1811
While in Russia the couple had their third child, Louisa Catherine, who died in her first year of life.
1814
John Quincy headed the American delegation that signed the Treaty of Ghent ending the War of 1812.
1815-1816
President James Madison appointed him Minister to Great Britain.
1817-1824
John Quincy became Secretary of State to President James Monroe for two consecutive terms. He is considered one of the most accomplished Secretary of State of all times.
1825
After a contested presidential election, John Quincy Adams was elected the sixth President of the United States.
1829
Adams lost the presidential election to Andrew Jackson.
1831-1848
He was elected to nine consecutive terms in Congress as a Massachusetts representative.
1848
February 21: Suffered a stroke.
February 23: Died.
John Quincy Adams presidential portrait by George Caleb Bingham, 1844. National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution.