John Adams was a Founding Father and the second president of the United States from 1797 to 1801. Before his presidency, he was a leader of the American Revolution that achieved independence from Great Britain. During the latter part of the Revolutionary War and in the early years of the new nation, he served the Continental Congress of the United States as a senior diplomat in Europe. Adams was the first vice president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. He was a dedicated diarist and regularly corresponded with contemporaries, including his wife and advisor Abigail Adams and his friend and rival Thomas Jefferson.
Oldenbarneveld 9 Jan. 1816. My Dear and high respected friend! You Shall indulge me—having been engaged So long in various lucubrations—that I take Some repose, and write a few lines…
Boston January 15th: 1816 Dear Grandpapa I have recieved your letter dated the 17 November 1815 and I was very happy to have got it or that is to say…
Valley near Hamilton 24th. Feby. 1816 Dear Sir— Your Letter of the 21st. of Novr. being forwarded under cover to William at New York, remained some time with him and…
Oldenbarneveld 18 March. 1816. My Dear and high-respected Friend! Although I dilay’d till now to answer your very gratifying favour of Febr. the 5th, it was not, that I valued…
Philadelphia 29 March 1816 Sir The obligation confered by the letter you did me the honor to write in September last will always be highly estimated, and as the subject…
Monticello Apr. 8. 16. Dear Sir I have to acknolege your two favors of Feb. 16. & Mar. 2. and to join sincerely in the sentiment of mrs Adams, and…
Philada. April 27. 1816 My dear Sir, I have taken the liberty of recommending to your kind attention, Henry Jonathan Williams Esquire, a young Gentleman of this City, who is…
Olden barneveld 1 May 1816. Dear and respected Sir! Mr. Alex. Bryant Johnson returned me the ms—Had I more time I Should be tempted to write a geogological history of…
Charlestown May 2d. 1816 Dear sir, I am on the wing for N. York, where I hope for an interview with Gov. Jay & Dr. Boudinot, who I expect will…
Boston 13th. May 1816. Venerable Sir, I have it in contemplation to devote a portion of my leisure to Recollections of the Life of Samuel Dexter . Any facts, public…
Quincy May 26th 1816 My dear John It gives me much pleasure, to hear that you have a Taste for Numbers, because this quality or faculty, call it which you…
Ealing 29. May 1816. My Dear Sir. It was only three days since, that Mr Prescott called out here, and left your kind favour, of 2. and 11. September last,…
Albany, 7 Mo. 16, 1816. Hond. and Esteemed Friend— It is with great pleasure that I have observed, of late, the continued evidences of thy health so prolonged, and habitual…
Quincy July 31. 1816 Dear John I find upon my table this morning your favour of the 7. March; and I know not whether I have ever answered it. I…
Monticello Aug. 1. 16 Dear Sir Your two philosophical letters of May 4. and 6. have been too long in my Carton of “Letters to be answered.” to the question…
New York 1st Augt. 1816 Respected Sir Being personally unknown to you, I fear that I am chargeable with a breach of decorum in thus addressing a letter to you…
Oldenbarneveld 3 Aug. 1816. My Dear and respected friend! I intended at first to have answered your kind favour of July 16—last week—but I was everÿ daÿ So much fatigued…
Philadelphia 8t. Augt. 1816 Dear Sir I contemplate publishing a collection of the letters of our late friend Dr Rush on political, religious & miscellaneous subjects; and as he long…
11 oct. 1816. My Dear and respected Sir! I Should rather guess that Basanistes would do good—It is true it is a heroic medicine, but it would not come in…
Washington Ocr. 12. 1816 Dear Sir Your favor of the 4th. of Sepr. was handed to me, by Docr. Freeman, at my abode in Virga. just before I left it…
Little–Boston 12. October 1816. My dear Sir. I am still not only to answer, but to acknowledge the receipt of your kind Letters of 3. 10. 18. 24. and 26.…
Monticello Oct. 14. 16 Your letter; dear Sir, of May 6. had already well explained the Uses of grief, that of Sep. 3. with equal truth adduces instances of it’s…
Quincy october 24th 1816 Dear John, I am not conscious that I have been deficient in a return to all the Letters you have written to me, and I now…
Washington October 31. 1816 Dear Sir. In further answer to your favor of the 20th of last month, I beg leave to say, that I have just returned from the…