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.
Ghent 20. December 1814. My dear wife. Our interval of leisure still continues—The British Messenger who took our last Note to England has not yet returned, but may now be…
Quincy December 21 1814 my dear Daughter I shall make one effort more; to convey a Letter to you, and that by sending it to Ghent, where I really wish…
Ghent 23. December 1814. My dear wife. If in receiving two of your Letters at a time, I have some times mingled with the pleasure derived from them a thought…
Ghent 27. December 1814. My dear wife. On Saturday last, the 24th: of December, the Emperor Alexander’s birth day a Treaty of Peace and Amity was signed by the British…
Ghent 13 January 1815. My dearest friend. Your two Letters of 15 and 16. December were delivered to me yesterday Morning, and are numbers 51. and 52—The day before, I…
Ghent 17. January 1815. My dear wife. Since the departure of Mr Gallatin, I am left here the only remnant of what was called the Congress of Ghent—Instead of the…
Ghent 20. January 1815. My dearest wife. I received yesterday Morning your’s of 27. December number 54—and readily excuse the omission of a Letter on the Birth-day in the satisfaction…
Ghent 24. January 1815 My dear wife. Although I have been since I wrote you last Friday constantly engaged in preparing for my departure, I have not been able to…
AU NOM DU ROI. Nous Ambassadeur de S. M. le Roi de France près S. M. l’Empereur de toutes les Russies prions les Officiers Civils et Militaires, chargés de maintenir…
St: Petersburg 31 Jany. 12 February 1815. Mr Harris has the honor to hand herewith inclosed to Mrs Adams the several passports and Letters Required for her journey to Berlin…
Hotel du Nord. Rue de Richelieu, Paris 1. March 1815. My dear Wife. Your Letter N. 8. dated 31. January, which I received on Sunday last has explained the mistake…
Quincy october 13th 1815 My Dear Mrs Adams I must inclose a Note to you, to Say that this morning the mail from Utica in N york, informd me that…
Quincy October 20th 1815 My Dear Daughter It was with great pleasure that I received and read your Letter of August 6th from Ealing, and it communicated to me a…
[ , Start insertion, March 1816 , End, ] My dear daughter I always like to send to every one some token of remembrance by writing to each, altho, I…
Quincy April 24 1816— My Dear Daughter By a vessel which saild a week since, I wrote to my Son, and Grandson’s. by this I shall write only to you,…
Quincy May 28th 1816 my Dear Daughter Altho’ I have repeatedly written to you Since I received a Letter from you, I am not critical in that respect. judging from…
Rio de Janeiro July 2 1816 How very kind of you my beloved Mrs Adams to answer my dull letter so immediately You can form no idea of the pleasure…
Quincy March 15th 1817 My dear daughter I received your very kind Letter, in which you take so great interest in my health, that I am bound to say much…
[Thomas’s] Hotel [ , Start insertion, April 22, 1817 , End, ] My dear Mrs Adams— Will you, and Mr. Adams attend my marriage which is to be on Thursday…
Quincy August 28th 1817 Dear daughter The Children Say that they have your permission to come to Town to dine with Commodore Hull—and to Stay untill Saturday to visit the…
Quincy Sep’br 18th 1817 Dear daughter I heard of you at Providence from mr [Fearno] , and I was yesterday informd that the News paper reported your arrival at N…
Quincy december 12th 1817 my dear daughter I have been haunted with the Deamon of omission, and a hundred Sprights in the garb of excuses, Such as Company, family avocations…
Quincy Janry 3d 1818 My Dear Daughter I this morning received Your Second Letter, by way of journal. we have all been highly entertaind. it makes me a Sharer with…
Quincy Febry. 1st 1818 My Dear Daughter I received yesterday your journal to the 21st of Jan’ry. Washington Seems to be in a whirpool of dissipation—well described by Scott in…