The Biographical Dictionary of America/Adams, John Quincy (statesman)

ADAMS, John Quincy, statesman, eldest son of Charles F. and Abigail Brooks Adams, was born in Boston, Mass., Sept. 22, 1833. He was graduated from Harvard college in 1853, and two years later was admitted to the Suffolk county bar. He followed his profession for a short time, then, becoming interested in agriculture, he created a model farm of five hundred acres at Quincy, Mass. He served on Governor Andrew's staff during the civil war, and sat in the state legislature in 1866 as representative for Quincy. He was originally an advocate of "Free Soil," and a vigorous supporter of the war policy of President Lincoln, but changed on "reconstruction" to President Johnson's policy, which resulted in his withdrawal from the Republican party, and prevented his re-election in the ensuing year. He was nominated by the Democrats for governor of Massachusetts in 1868, 1869, and 1870, but was not elected, and again served in the legislature in 1869 and 1870 as a Democrat. In 1870 he was for the fourth time an unsuccessful candidate for the governorship, and in 1872 was candidate for the vice-presidency of the United States on the ticket with Charles O'Connor.

In 1873 he was a candidate for lieutenant-governor of Massachusetts, with William Gaston for governor. In 1877 he was chosen a member of the Harvard corporation; was nominated in 1884 for Congress in the Second Massachusetts district, but declined the nomination. In 1887 he accepted an appointment on the metropolitan sewer commission, and in 1891 became a member of the rapid transit commission. Mr. Adams inherited a large estate and acquired additional wealth. He was conspicuous in the town affairs of Quincy; the adoption of what is known as the "Quincy School System" being due to his efforts while on the school board. He was invited to a seat in President Cleveland's cabinet in 1892, but declined. Mr. Adams was a man of genuine ability, and of equally genuine indifference to what are termed "party honors." He attended the First Unitarian church of Quincy, beneath which are buried the remains of his illustrious ancestors, the two Presidents. His published writings are: "Correspondence between John Quincy Adams and Wade Hampton; with speech of John Quincy Adams at Columbia, S. C." (Boston, 1868); "Appeal to the Mechanics and Laboring Men of New England" (Fall River, 1870; Boston, 1870). He died Aug. 14, 1894.