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.
Washington 8 Novbr. 1818 My Dear John Your sudden silence after the affectionate and unremitted attention you shewed during your dear Grandmothers illness and the total want of information <…
London December 4. 1818. Dear and Respected Sir. Out of the circle of your own family, there are none who can feel more sorrow at the heavy affliction that has…
Military Library, Whitehall, London 7th December 1818 Sir I trust my motive will be received by your Excellency as an excuse for this intrusion. I am desirous of recording authentic…
Oldenbarneveld 7 Dec. 1818 My Dear and high respected friend! yes, I am thankful—I am Sensible of my high obligations towards you—how few can follow your example! to remember a…
48 Market Street Baltimore Dec. 9. 1818 Dear Sir— I send you the prospectus of a Work I am about to publish—I wish to have your opinion on the subject…
New London Connecticut Decbr. 15th Sat 1818. Sir. It has long been a favourite object of my literary ambition to become the biographer of yourself and a few other the…
[ , Start insertion, December 17-24, 1818 , End, ] 17th So very cold remained at home all day and saw no one 18 The day still severely cold but…
New York Decr 18 1818 Venerated Sir Having been appointed by mr James Simpson (our old Consul in Morocco) his agent to settle his accounts (which have been standing since…
Washington 22 Decbr. 1818 Dear John I yesterday received your Letter of the 15 instt. and really can scarcely find an excuse for my long silence both to you and…
[ , Start insertion, December 25, 1818—January 4, 1819 , End, ] 25 This being Xmas day received visits as usual from Mr. & Madame de Neuville—As I have just…
New York 26—18 501 Greenwich St Honorable Sir I cant help Expressing my great disapointment at not being favored with an answer to my Solicitaions so Long Past, I know…
Rome. December. 28. 1818. Sir. I have just heard here with a deep and sincere grief of the truly great misfortune which it has at length pleased God to inflict…
[ January 2–7, 1819 ] I must begin this Sheet by observing that I have touched rather more largely upon political occurrences than is perhaps prudent considering how little I…
4th Feby. 1819 Tremont Street My dear Sir, The peculiar appropriatness of the enclosed letter, and the wish, often expressed by my mother, that you Could see it, induced Mrs…
Feby 8th 1819— Dr: Sir. I have reflected with mingled emotions of filial tenderness and respect upon the proposal you made me, yesterday, to take up my abode with you…
Quincy February 8th 1819 My dear Sir I have heard, with some surprize, your proposition to Mr Adams that we should once more take up our residence with you. It…
New York February 11th: 1819 Highly Esteemed Sir— Having been advised to arrange an unbiassed history of the events which have grown out of the late Seminole War, especially as…
[ , Start insertion, 11-26 Feb 1819 , End, ] Feby 11 Mr Bailey called this morning and informed us that Mr Pinckney was to speak at the Supreme Court…
[ 13 Feb.—6 Mar 1819 ] Feby 13—A very bad cold—The day very stormy which prevented my going out—Mr. Bailey passed the evening with us—The question on Genl. Jackson’s affairs…
Washington 14. Feby 1819. My dear Sir. I have received you kind Letter of the 3d: instant, full of good counsel, of which I hope at the proper time to…
[ , Start insertion, 18-26 Feb 1819 , End, ] Feby. 18th The Evening brought my expected guests or rather a small part of them and on the whole the…
Boston, March 6. 1819 Sir, I am much obliged by the information & advice given in your Note of the 5th. instant—I hope I have not deviated materially in my…
Schoharie Bridge, N.Y. 18 March, 1819. Venerable Sir. Will you be pleased to accept of the accompanying political charts of 6 tables or sheets; & may I solicit your Suggestions…
Monticello Mar. 21. 19. Dear Sir I am indebted to you for mr Bowditch’s very learned mathematical papers, the calculations of which are not for every reader, altho’ their results…