Guide Note: 2nd President of the United States John Adams was a leader in the American Revolution.

John Adams was born in what is now Quincy, Massachusetts on October 30, 1735. He was the scion of two of the oldest colonial families in Massachusetts. He graduated from Harvard University (then Harvard College) in 1755, and after teaching for several years, became a lawyer. In 1764 he married Abigail Smith. They had five children and one still birth.

Adams was a major actor in Massachusetts resistance to the Stamp Act. He wrote many documents arguing against Parliamentary authority over Massachusetts and the other colonies. One of the most influential members of the Continental Congress, he nominated George Washington as commander in chief and argued for independence from Britain rather than a negotiated settlement that would keep the colonies under Crown control. Surprisingly, he also defended in court the British soldiers who participated in the Boston Massacre.

Even though Adams was, in his own words, "obnoxious and disliked", he was sent to Europe after the Revolution both to gather support for the new nation and to negotiate treaties with Britain. He was ambassador to The Netherlands as well as the first ambassador to Great Britain. In between these duties, he found the time to write the constitution for Massachusetts.

John Adams was vice president during George Washington's two terms of office. He had no known input on Washington's decisions, and largely served as a tie-breaking vote in the U.S. Senate, a position which frustrated Adams.

As second president of the United States, John Adams enacted many policies meant to suppress the opposition political party of the time. He was widely unpopular, and lost the election of 1800 to Thomas Jefferson. He retired to his farm, and remained there until his death in 1826. Fast Facts:

1. Held office: March 4, 1797 -March 3, 1801
2. Vice President: Thomas Jefferson
3. First President to live in The White House
4. First President whose son became president
5. Died on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence