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.
United States Corvette John Adams. Below Wingo. Sunday 12 June 1814— The wind, which had been blowing for ten days to the Westward having yesterday become fair, Captain Angus went…
Mercredi le 24. Juin 1814. Le Grand Maître des Cérémonies a l’honneur d’informer Madame Adams qu’Elle est invitée à se rendre, Jeudi prochain 25. de ce mois, au Château Impérial…
Ghent 24 June 1814. My dearest Friend. At length I may indulge the hope of having reached the remotest bound of the distance which separates me from you, and that…
Ghent 15. July 1814. My dear wife. The stream of high and mighty travellers from London, through this place has been incessant since the passage of the Emperor Alexander—The two…
Ghent 19. July 1814. My beloved friend. The false alarm, that I gave you in my last Letter, of the arrival of the British Commissioners, came to us from no…
Lundi ce 20 Juillet 1814. Le Grand Maître des Cérémonies a l’honneur deprévenir Madame d’Adams, que le 22. de ce mois pour celebrer la fête de Sa Majesté L’Impératrice Mère…
Ghent 22. July 1814. My Dearest Friend. As I am reduced to the necessity of copying all my own Letters, and as one of the duties the most indispensable to…
Ghent 12. August 1814. My dearest friend. I wrote you some weeks ago that after the arrival of the British Commissioners, I should probably find it impracticable to write you…
Ghent 16. August 1814 My Beloved wife. American News presses upon us with an interest still increasing, and which will soon be but too powerful. It is impossible that the…
Ghent 19. August 1814 My dearest Wife. At last, I have the satisfaction of knowing that there is no positive obstacle to the passage of Letters directly by the Post,…
Ghent 9. September 1814 My dearest friend. Mr Smith and his family have arrived at Amsterdam; I have received a Letter from him dated on the 5th: instt: and have…
Ghent 13. September 1814 My dear wife. Your Letters of 13 and 15 August, which I received both together on Saturday last have fully ascertained that the Post directly between…
Ghent 7. October 1814. My dearest friend. Captain Bates arrived here yesterday morning, from Amsterdam, and has lent me a number of American Newspapers, of the month of August, and…
Ghent 11. October 1814. My dearest friend. No letter from you, since that of 10. September, which I received, this day week—The next Post-day was Saturday, when there came one…
Ghent 14. October 1814. My dearest wife, Mr Boyd returned last Evening from Amsterdam, and is to proceed in the course of two or three days to Paris—As you are…
Ghent 18. October 1814. My dearest wife. First for the news from America. I had not closed my last Friday’s Letter to you, when the Times , of the 10th.…
Ghent 21. October 1814. My dearest Louisa. Nothing from you since your Letter of 13. September, from which I conclude that you ceased writing, after receiving mine of 23. August.…
Ghent 4. November 1814 My dearest wife. Your favour of 30. September is still the latest that I have received from you, and it has left me in a solicitude…
Ghent 8. November 1814. My dearest friend. The Evening before last, Mr Russell received, enclosed in a letter from Mr Beasley a scrap of an English Newspaper, containing the President’s…
11/23 novembre 1814 J’ai appris, Madame, qu’une malle renfermant des papiers appertenants à l’ambassade Française avoit été deposée chez vous par le Genéral Loriston lors de son départ de Petersbourg.…
St. Petersbourg le 24/12. 9bre. 1814. Le soussigné reconnait avoir reçu de Madame Adams deux malles renfermant des papiers de l’ambassade française à St. Petersbourg, qui avaient été déposées chez…
Ghent 25. November 1814. My dear wife. The Evening before last Coll: Milligan arrived here from England. He had left London on Saturday Morning the 19th: and came by the…
Ghent 29 November 1814 My dearest wife. My letter of Friday last informed you of the arrival of the Fingal at Havre, and of the dispatches from the Government, brought…
Ghent 2. December 1814. My beloved wife. Yesterday morning your Letter of 6. November, which I mark number 41 was delivered to me—Why it had been so long on the…