John Quincy Adams

John Quincy Adams was born in Braintree, Massachusetts (now Quincy, Massachusetts), the son of 2nd U.S. President John Adams and his wife Abigail Adams. Adams spent much of his early life traveling with his father overseas. His political career started when George Washington appointed him a foreign diplomat at age 26. After returning to the U.S., Adams was later appointed to the U.S. Senate. During this time, he also served as a professor at Brown University. From 1817-1825, Adams served as Secretary of State, after which he served one term as U.S. President. As president, Adams emphasized education, paying off the national debt, and strengthening America’s foreign policy. Following his presidency, Adams eventually returned to Congress, serving as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1843 until his death in 1848.