He edited an important series of educational monographs issued by the U. S. Bureau of Education, and was editor also of the Johns Hopkins Studies in History and Political Science. His other published work embraces, besides his two volume Life and Writings of Jared Sparks, issued in 1893, monographs on Maryland’s Influence in Founding a National Commonwealth, on The College of William and Mary, on The Study of History in American Colleges and Universities, on Thomas Jefferson and the University of Virginia, and a work on the History of the United States Constitution. Dr. Adams died in 1901.
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| JOHN ADAMS |
Ad′ams, John, second President of the United States, was born at Braintree, Mass., Oct. 19, 1735. The father of John Adams was a farmer of small means, to which he added the occupation of shoemaking. He gave a classical education to his son John, who graduated at Harvard in 1755. In 1764 he married Abigail Smith, a daughter of the minister of Weymouth. He took part in the measures against the Stamp Act, and was prominent in all the steps which brought about the war of the Revolution. He was one of the five delegates from Massachusetts to the congress which met in Philadelphia in 1774, and also a member of the Continental Congress of 1775. Here, with Lee and Jefferson, he boldly advocated separation from the mother country. Of the three committees appointed, on the Declaration of Independence, on a confederation and on foreign relations, Adams was a member of the first and third. The Declaration of Independence was drawn up by Jefferson, but on Adams devolved the task of battling it through Congress in a three-days’ debate. The plan of a treaty reported by the third committee was drawn up by Adams. The preparation of articles of war for the government of the army was given to Adams and Jefferson, but Jefferson left the task to Adams, who drew up the articles and argued them through Congress. Thus occupied for nearly two years he gained the reputation “of having the clearest head and firmest heart of any man in Congress.” In 1777 he was appointed a commissioner to France; in 1779 he was appointed minister to treat with Great Britain for peace and commerce; and in 1782 he helped in settling the conditions of peace with England. In 1789 he was the first ambassador of the United States to Great Britain. When George III expressed his pleasure in receiving an ambassador who had no prejudices in favor of France, the enemy of the English Crown, Adams replied: “I have no prejudices but in favor of my native land.” On his return to the United States he was elected Vice-president, and in 1797, was made President. In 1801 his opponent, Jefferson, was elected by a majority of one in the electoral college. Adams died July 4, 1826, on the fiftieth anniversary of the independence of the United States. See Morse’s Life, in American Statesmen Series.
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| JOHN Q. ADAMS |
Ad′ams, John Quincy, sixth President of the United States and eldest son of John Adams, was born July 11, 1767, at Braintree, Mass. He graduated at Harvard College in 1788. Washington appointed him minister to The Hague in 1794, and later on minister to Portugal, but his father, becoming President, changed his destination to Berlin. In this promotion of his own son John Adams acted on the written advice of Washington, who said that young Adams was the ablest person in the American diplomatic service, and merited promotion ought not to be withheld from him because he was the son of the President. He soon became a leader of the Federal party, but separated from them on the question of the embargo. He was sent as minister to Russia and to England by Madison. He was secretary of state under Monroe. In the presidential contest of 1824 he was the candidate of the Whig party. As no one of the candidates secured a majority of the electors chosen by the states the election went to the House of Representatives, where Adams was chosen. His administration was marked by few events of importance, though it was a period of general progress and prosperity. In 1830 he was elected to Congress, where he continued to represent his district until his death. Here he rendered perhaps the most important service in his political life, becoming conspicuous and influential in shaping tariff legislation, in arguing for the right of petition to Congress and in organizing and leading the opposition to slavery. He was stricken with paralysis while occupying his seat in the House of Representatives, and died Feb. 23, 1848. See Morse's Life, in American Statesmen Series.
Adams, Maude, an American actress (real name Kiskadden), was born Nov. 11, 1872, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her mother was the leading woman in a stock company and while going to school Miss Adams often appeared on the stage in child’s parts. At sixteen she joined E. H. Sothern’s Company in New York in the “Midnight Bell.” She
