Adams, JOHN (1735-1826), second president of the United States, born at Quincy, Mass. He was educated at Harvard University and adopted the law as a profession. In 1764 he married Abigail Smith, a woman of considerable strength of character, who had much influence on her husband's life. Adams's attention was directed to politics by the question as to the right of the English Parliament to tax the colonies, and in 1765 he published some essays strongly opposed to the claims of the mother country. As a member of the Continental Congress he was strenuous in his opposition to the home government, and in organizing the various departments of the colonial government. On May 13th, 1776, he seconded the motion for a declaration of independence proposed by Lee of Virginia and was appointed a member of the committee to draw it up. The declaration was actually drawn up by Jefferson, but it was Adams who carried it through Congress. In 1778 he went to France on a special mission, and after a brief home visit returned to Europe. For nine years he resided abroad as representative of his country in France, Holland and England. After taking part in the peace negotiations he was appointed, in 1785, the first ambassador of the United States to the court of Saint James. He was recalled in 1788, and in the same year was elected vice-president of the republic, under Washington. In 1792 he was reelected vice-president, and at the following election was chosen president. The commonwealth was then divided into two parties, the Federalists, who favored strong central government and were suspected of monarchic views, and the Anti-federalists, Republicans or Democrats. Adams adhered to the former party, but the real leader of the party was Hamilton, with whom Adams did not agree and who tried to prevent his election. His term of office proved a stormy one, and broke up the Federalist party. His reelection in 1800 was opposed by Hamilton, who succeeded in effecting the return of the Democratic candidate, Jefferson. Adams then retired from office into private life. He had the consolation of living to see his son president. He died July 4, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of the declaration of independence, and on the same day as Jefferson. His works have been ably edited by his grandson, Charles Francis Adams.