John Adams

Having graduated from Harvard College in 1755, John Adams was admitted to the bar in 1758 and commenced law practice in Suffolk County. He became a member of the Sons of Liberty and opposed the Stamp Act. Adams represented Boston in the general court and on 17 Jun 1774 was elected a member of the Continental Congress (1774, 1775-1778). Serving in Congress, he was one of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence (4 Jul 1776) and a member of the Board of War, but resigned to accept an appointment (28 Nov 1777) as a commissioner to the Court of France. He also served as Minister Plenipotentiary to Holland (1782) and first Minister to the Court of Great Britain (24 Feb 1785 - 1788).

In 1789 Adams was a candidate at the first presidential election and as runner-up occupied the office of Vice President of the United States (21 Apr 1789 - 4 Mar 1797). He was reelected in 1792 and served throughout George Washington's two administrations. Adams succeeded Washington as president on 4 Mar 1797 and his administration, mostly composed of the past cabinet members, faced a crisis of relations with France. In anticipation of war Adams proposed (Jan 1798) the creation of a navy department. The Federalist Congress approved the Alien and Sedition Acts (1798), which imposed restrictions on aliens suspected of pro-French activities and penalties on those who criticized the government. Though Congress did not declare war, military preparations were underway until a diplomatic mission was sent to France for negotiations (Feb 1799). A treaty with France was finally concluded on 30 Sep 1800. In October 1800 the U.S. government relocated to Washington, D.C.

As a result of the bitter split within the ruling party, Adams was defeated for reelection in December 1800. He retired from politics, but served as a delegate to the constitutional convention of Massachusetts in 1820.