Abigail Adams

Abigail Adams by Gilbert Stuart

Abigail Adams (née Smith; November 22, 1744 – October 28, 1818) was the wife of John Adams, the second President of the United States, and the mother of John Quincy Adams, the sixth. She is often remembered for her prolific letters and her influence on her husband, making her an important figure in the American Revolution and the early United States.

Early Life

Abigail Adams was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts, to the Reverend William Smith and Elizabeth Quincy Smith. Despite receiving no formal education due to her gender, Abigail was an avid reader, educating herself in the family's extensive library. Her lack of formal education did not impede her intellectual growth; she became one of the most influential women of her time through self-education.

Marriage and Family

In 1764, Abigail married John Adams, a young lawyer with whom she had corresponded for some time. Their marriage was marked by long periods of separation due to John's political duties, first during the American Revolution and later when he served as a diplomat in Europe. Despite the physical distance, the couple maintained a strong relationship through letters, which have since become valuable historical documents.

Role in the American Revolution

During the American Revolution, Abigail Adams managed the family farm and investments, showcasing her abilities in a time when women were rarely involved in such matters. Her letters to John Adams during this period urged him to consider women's rights in the new laws he was helping to create. Her famous appeal, "Remember the Ladies," in a letter to her husband in 1776, highlighted her early advocacy for women's rights.

Later Life and Legacy

After John Adams's presidency (1797-1801), the couple retired to Quincy, Massachusetts. Abigail continued to be an active correspondent and advisor to her husband and sons, particularly John Quincy Adams, who would become the sixth President of the United States.

Abigail Adams died on October 28, 1818, of typhoid fever. She is remembered as a pioneering figure in American history, not only for her role as a First Lady but also for her contributions to the discourse on women's rights and abolitionism. Her letters remain an essential source for understanding the political and social climate of the Revolutionary War and early American period.

See Also

• First Lady of the United States
• Women in the American Revolution
• John Adams
• John Quincy Adams