was born in Boston on August 18, 1807. The son of President John Quincy Adams, he spent his early years managing the family property in Massachusetts, writing historical articles, and editing the letters of his grandmother Abigail Adams and writings of his grandfather John Adams. A solid abolitionist, he was the Vice-Presidential candidate of the Free-Soil party in 1848.
After running as a republican in 1858, he was elected as a representative, and given the task of stopping the British Government, despite the sympathy for the south. Personally well-liked and a tactful diplomat, he was able to prevent a failure over the delicate Trent Affair. The success of his mission was a vitally important contribution to the Northern victory.
After his return to the United States in 1868, Adams retired from public life, and died on November 21, 1886.
