Louisa Catherine Adams was the first lady of the United States from 1825 to 1829 during the presidency of her husband John Quincy Adams. She was born in England and raised in France. Her father was an influential American merchant, and she was regularly introduced to prominent Americans. After her family returned to England, she met John Quincy Adams in 1795, and the two began a tenuous courtship. They married in 1797 after being engaged for a year, beginning a marriage of disagreements and personality conflicts. She joined her husband on his diplomatic mission to Prussia, where she was popular with the Prussian court. When they returned to the United States, her husband became a senator and she gave birth to three sons. John was appointed minister to the Russian Empire in 1809, and they traveled to the Russian Empire without their two older sons, against Louisa's wishes.
Washington Febry. 11th. 1805 My Dear Madam I received your two kind letters a few days since and was much affected by the account of poor Louisa’s illness and the…
Washington Janry: 6 1806 Dear Madam I received with joy your letter of the eighteenth a few days since as I had suffer’d considerable anxiety at not hearing any thing…
Washington May 5. 1806 My beloved friend. After a couple of days of anxious solicitude 1 last night recieved your very affectionate letter from New York which revived my half…
Washington May 11th. 1806 My dear Mother A few days since I recieved your very obliging letter in which you mention having procured the articles I wrote for and for…
Washington May 11th. 1806 My best friend. I last night recieved your kind letter from Quincy but was much mortified at the very slight mention you make of the Children…
Washington May 18 1806 My best and dearest friend. I am much disappointed at your Sisters not having accompanied you to Boston, having flatter’d myself with a hope that her…
Washington May 18 [ , Start insertion, 1806 , End, ] My dear Aunt Had I had an idea that my writing could have afforded you one moments satisfaction I…
Washington May 25 1806 The pleasure I recieved on reading your account of our charming Children my best beloved friend you can more readily concieve than I describe I can…
Washington July 6th. 1806 My most affectionate friend I last night recieved your truely tender and kind letter words cannot describe the feelings with which I read it my heart…
Washington July 11th. 1806 Accept my best beloved friend the sincere congratulations of your wife whose prayers are humbly offered to the author of all good for your happiness and…
Philadelphia July 30 1806 Having arrived thus far safely my best friend I write you a few lines merely to inform you that I have borne the journey much better…
Boston Decbr. 7th. 1806. I am all impatience to hear from you, my beloved friend, and cannot concieve the reason, of your not having written from New York, according to…
Boston Decbr. 14 1806 I have just recieved your letter of the 5, my beloved friend, and can only lament, that the extreme irregularity of the Mails, should have caused…
Boston Decbr: 19th. 1806 I am rejoiced my best friend to find by your last that you have at length recieved one of my letters your anxiety must have been…
Boston 21st [ , Start insertion, Dec. , End, ] 1806 My best beloved friend I this morning recieved your favor of the 12 which afforded me the satisfaction of…
Boston Jany. 16th. 1807 Your letter of the 6th and the enclosures, arrived safe last evening. I was a little surprized at your appearing so angry at the observations made…
Boston Jany. 21st. 1807 How shall I express my gratitude, my thanks, my admiration , of your very beautiful lines, my best beloved friend you have more than answerd my…
Boston Jany. 26 1806 [ , Start insertion, 1807 , End, ] I have not recieved a line from [. . .] friend since you enclosed your very beautiful [.…
Boston Febry. 17th. 1807 We return’d to Town yesterday morning which was one of the most bitter Cold I ever experienced but fortunately were not frozen The Children bore the…
Boston 20 Febry. 1807 My best friend Tomorrow week being the 1st. March I presume this must be the last letter I address to you at Washington supposing you will…
Boston March 6th. 1807 I write you my beloved friend in the hope that half your journey will be perform’d when you recieve this letter and that it may be…
Washington Nov 11th. 1807 My dear Mother Your very kind letter has eased my heart of a load of anxiety, on account of our dear George, whose health appear’d to…
December 13th. 1807 My dear Aunt I recieved your very kind Letter for which I return many thanks I hope you will pardon the anxiety which my last expressed concerning…
[ , Start insertion, ca. 1809 , End, ] My Dear Madam There are feelings of such a nature, as no language is adequate to express, and it is only…