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Quick Facts
- NAME: Abigail Adams
- OCCUPATION: U.S. First Lady
- BIRTH DATE: November 11, 1744
- DEATH DATE: October 28, 1818
- PLACE OF BIRTH: Weymouth, Massachusetts
- Maiden Name: Abigail Smith
Best Known For
Abigail Adams was the wife of President John Adams and the mother of John Quincy Adams, who became the sixth president of the United States.
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Abigail Adams - Mini Biography
A short biography on Abigail Adams who served as unofficial adviser to her husband, President John Adams.
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Play NowAbigail Adams. (2013). The Biography Channel website. Retrieved 06:28, May 25, 2013, from http://www.biography.com/people/abigail-adams-9175670.
Abigail Adams. [Internet]. 2013. The Biography Channel website. Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/abigail-adams-9175670 [Accessed 25 May 2013].
"Abigail Adams." 2013. The Biography Channel website. May 25 2013, 06:28 http://www.biography.com/people/abigail-adams-9175670.
"Abigail Adams," The Biography Channel website, 2013, http://www.biography.com/people/abigail-adams-9175670 [accessed May 25, 2013].
"Abigail Adams," The Biography Channel website, http://www.biography.com/people/abigail-adams-9175670 (accessed May 25, 2013).
Abigail Adams [Internet]. The Biography Channel website; 2013 [cited 2013 May 25] Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/abigail-adams-9175670.
Abigail Adams, http://www.biography.com/people/abigail-adams-9175670 (last visited May 25, 2013).
Abigail Adams. The Biography Channel website. 2013. Available at: http://www.biography.com/people/abigail-adams-9175670. Accessed May 25, 2013.
While in the capitold, she helped First Lady Martha Washington with entertaining dignitaries and other officials.
Political Involvement
Adams remained a supportive spouse and confidante after her husband became the president in 1797. Some critics objected to Abigail’s influence over her husband, calling her “Mrs. President.” The nation’s second first lady kept a busy schedule when she was in Philadelphia, the country’s capitol at the time. Adams rose early to tend to family and household matters and spent much of the remainder of the day receiving visitors and hosting events. She still spent a lot of time back in Massachusetts because of her health.
Abigail and John Adams did not always see eye to eye on matters of policy. During her husband’s presidency, the United States had some problems with France. Once a great ally, France was in the midst of revolution when Adams became president. The country was being run by a five-man executive group known as the Directory along with a legislative body. The Directory had stopped trade with the United States and refused to meet with any U.S. envoys. In 1798, Adams was told that the French officials would hold talks for substantial bribes. This attempt at extortion did not sit well with John Adams and he told Congress about the incident. The documents related to the incident were published, and the whole situation became known as the X, Y, Z Affair as Adams had only used letters to identify the French officials instead of names. Abigail thought war should be declared while John sought out a peaceful, less costly solution.
The couple did, however, agree on the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798. The three alien acts were aimed at immigrants and increased the waiting period for naturalization, allowed the government to detain foreign subjects, and permitted the deportation of any alien deemed dangerous. The Sedition Act federalized the ban against malicious antigovernment writings and other works inciting opposition to Congress or the president. An ardent champion of her husband, Abigail thought those who published lies about John should be punished. Under the act, penalties included fines and jail time. John Adams signed these acts into law and has since been rebuked by historians for this anti-immigrant, anti-free speech legislation.
Later Life
Around the time her husband was defeated by Thomas Jefferson in the 1800 election, the Adams learned of the death of their second son Charles, which was related to his alcoholism. With great sadness, the Adams soon moved to the country’s new capitol, Washington, D.C., where they became the first residents of the White House. Abigail Adams wrote many letters to family around this time, shedding light on the early days of the new capital and complaining about the unfinished state of their new home. A few months later, after John Adams left office in 1801, they returned to their family farm.
With John now retired, the couple was able to spend more time together.
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Abigail and John Adams
View groupDuring their courtship and marriage, John Adams and Abigail Smith Adams exchanged over 1,100 letters, many filled with intellectual discussions on government and politics considered an invaluable account of the Revolutionary War. Abigail, a fierce advocate of rights for women and African-Americans, was an important partner throughout John's political career. The couple lived on a farm in Quincy, Massachusetts, where they raised five children. Abigail died in 1818; John died in 1826, 16 months after their son, John Quincy Adams, was sworn in as the sixth President of the United States.
Abigail and John Adams 2 people in this group
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Influential Women of Washington
View groupWhen the 19th Amendment was ratified, women were finally given the right to vote, and over the years many courageous women have stepped onto the national political stage as well. In 1916, Jeannette Rankin became the first woman elected to Congress and almost a century later Sonia Sotomayor became the first Latina woman to serve on the Supreme Court. And within the last two decades, the esteemable Hillary Clinton has served as First Lady, a New York senator and Secretary of State. These women, and many more, are setting the stage for the future of female leaders in Washington.
Visit Biography.com's Women's History group to explore more biographies, photos and videos of some the world's most fascinating women."
Influential Women of Washington 73 people in this group
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U.S. First Ladies
View groupThe wives of U.S. presidents are often important American figures in their own right. Although they have no official responsibilities, first ladies are a highly visible part of U.S. government. The role of the first lady has evolved over the centuries, from hostess of the White House to advocates for public policy. Learn about the different causes first ladies like Eleanor Roosevelt, Betty Ford, Nancy Reagan, Hillary Clinton, and Michelle Obama have championed over the years, from literacy to addiction to health care reform.
U.S. First Ladies 45 people in this group
