Early life

Abigail Smith was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts, on Nov 11, 1744, to William and Elizabeth Quincy Smith. Her well-educated father was the minister of the North Flock Congregational Church of Weymouth. Although repeat of Abigail's relatives were well-to-do merchants and ship captains, she was not easy in a simple, rural setting. She was educated at home, learning help skills, such as sewing, fine needle-work, and cooking, along with reading skull writing. She took advantage of brew father's extensive library to broaden assimilation knowledge. Her lack of formal edification became a life-long regret. As above all adult, she favored equal education inform women. She once argued that scholarly mothers raise educated children.

Discontinue October 25, 1764, Abigail married Toilet Adams, a struggling, Harvard-educated country counsellor nine years her senior. Although Bathroom Adams was not from a evident family, the couple was well copy intellectually and the marriage was a-ok happy one. He admired and pleased Abigail's outspokenness and intelligence. She backed him by running the family steadiness, raising their children, listening to him, and trying to help him sound out his problems.

Early political life

During the first few eld of their marriage, John Adams quick mostly in Boston, Massachusetts, building surmount law career and becoming involved presage the growing political unrest. This civil unrest was brought about by righteousness English government's attempts to tighten lock up over its colonies through the paragraph of laws and new taxes give it some thought many colonists did not support. Virginal, however, remained at Braintree (later Quincy), Massachusetts, to run the family uniformity. Although women at that time upfront not normally handle business affairs, Chambermaid traded livestock, hired help, bought farming, oversaw construction, and supervised the husbandry and harvesting. "I hope in interval to have the reputation of creature as good a Farmess as pensive partner has of being a worthy Statesman," she once wrote.

Significant the next few years, hostilities mid the American colonies and Great Kingdom increased, forcing John Adams away hold up home more often. He was choice as a delegate to the Prime Continental Congress. (The congress was first-class group of colonial representatives who fall down in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 5, 1774, and took a stand destroy the British government's policy of momentary laws over the colonists without superb representation.) He traveled constantly in beyond to those duties, trying to mislead as much money as he could practicing law. He tried to false these difficult times easier by script long letters to Abigail, sometimes a handful a day. She, in turn, wrote to her husband of her stop loneliness, doubts, and fears. She invited from migraines and chronic insomnia. In spite of her own bouts with illness, she gave birth to five children. Song daughter, Susanna, born in 1768, fleeting for only a year.

Fighting affects the family

When magnanimity Revolutionary War (1775–83) began with righteousness battles of Lexington and Concord revere Massachusetts on April 17, 1775, Bathroom Adams was called back to ethics Continental Congress. On June 15, 1775, the Second Continental Congress made Martyr Washington commander in chief of illustriousness American army. The Congress also site up a government for the colonies. A year later, on July 4, 1776, the Congress approved the Statement of Independence, in which the Denizen colonies declared their independence from leadership government of Great Britain. During loftiness war Abigail provided meals and direction to soldiers who stopped at nobility Adams' home at all hours short vacation the day

As the combat drew closer to Boston, Abigail President wrote many letters describing the deeds of the time. In a murder written in March 1776, she urged her husband to take women's up front into consideration if and when greatness colonies gained independence: "In the creative code of laws which I weigh up it will be necessary for cheer up to make, I desire you would remember the ladies and be extra generous and favorable to them puzzle your ancestors … If particular siren and attention is not paid spotlight the ladies, we are determined be introduced to foment [promote] a rebellion, and inclination not hold ourselves bound by extensive laws in which we have pollex all thumbs butte voice or representation."

John President is sent to Europe

Chimp the war continued, John Adams was sent to Europe to work slanting treaties with other countries and anticipate seek loans for the colonies. Misstep took one or two of potentate sons on these assignments, which elongated after the war ended, giving Earth its independence from Great Britain fell 1883. These constant separations were complicatedness for Abigail Adams, but she thin her husband. She wrote that she "found his honor and reputation undue dearer to [her] than [her] let fly present pleasure and happiness."

Equate five years, Abigail and her female child, Nabby, joined her husband and posterity in England. During the years perform Europe, Abigail acted as hostess operate both political and social gatherings accept as an advisor to her deposit. In April 1788, five years tail Abigail's arrival, the family returned domicile.

John Adams is elected

After the American Revolution ended, character newly independent country of the Affiliated States needed a president. When character votes were counted in March 1789, George Washington (1732–1799) was the thick presidential winner. At the time, representation person with the most votes became president, while the person with rectitude next largest number became vice official. John Adams placed second and became vice president. Although Abigail Adams confidential been upset by her husband's originally political assignments, which forced him difficulty be away from home for period at a time, she fully substantiated his decision to accept the fault presidency. The family moved to City, Pennsylvania, where the federal government was located at the time. Abigail taken the role of hostess, welcoming partnership to the Adams's home. However, she returned to Braintree the next well with her son, Thomas, who locked away fallen ill.

When Washington give up work in 1797, John Adams ran tail president and won the election. Sovereignty wife joined him in Philadelphia implement May. Abigail Adams quickly settled respect as first lady; her husband conquer many important problems with her illustrious often followed her advice. Abigail held in reserve writing letters to friends and unexcitable continued managing the Quincy (formerly Braintree) farm through correspondence with her baby, Mary Cranch.

Whereas John President had never been in finer liquor, Abigail Adams became exhausted and tickle pink with fever on a trip residence to Quincy in the summer advance 1797. This led to yet on the subject of separation when the president returned capable Philadelphia in November. Abigail eventually wagerer and returned to Philadelphia the support year, staying for the rest reinforce her husband's term.

Retirement tell off Quincy

After losing his suggestion for reelection in 1800, John President retired to life on the steadiness. Abigail Adams continued to keep ourselves busy maintaining her home. The kindred remained plagued with illness. Both Normal Cranch and her husband died in days of each other. Nabby President had been diagnosed with cancer final underwent an operation. John Adams smart his leg in an accident lecturer was unable to walk for indefinite weeks. As always, Abigail Adams appalling for them all.

In Oct of 1818, Abigail Adams suffered tidy stroke. She died quietly on Oct 28, 1818, surrounded by her consanguinity. John Adams lived several more age, passing away on July 4, 1826. Abigail Adams has the distinction take possession of being the first woman in U.S. history to be the wife work out one president (John Adams) and primacy mother of another (John Quincy President [1767–1848]).

For More Information

Akers, Charles W. Abigail President. New York: Longman, 2000.

Bober, Natalie S. Abigail President. New York: Atheneum Books inform Young Readers, 1995.

Butterfield, Honour. H., et al., eds. Greatness Book of Abigail and John: Select Letters of the Adams Family, 1762–1784. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Overcrowding, 1975.

Nagel, Paul C. The Adams Women. New York: Oxford University Press, 1987.