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.
Quincy March 17th 1818 my Dear Daughter I received your Letter of March 2d which has increased my anxiety to hear again from you, for a series of misfortunes Seem…
Quincy May 20th 1818 My dear daughter Your Letter of May 2d was so long comeing, that I feared Sickness had arrested your pen—as Subjects for the use of it…
Quincy July 28th 1818 My Dear Daughter I received Your Letter of July 18th on Saturday 25th. It was a great damper to me, who had been pleasing myself with…
Quincy August 21st 1818 dear daughter Since the 18th July, I have not received a Line from you or my Son, altho I have been in daily expectation of hearing…
Quincy Decr 22 1818 My dear Daughter your Letter has given me great delight Mrs Monroe has done herself great honour, and a durable Service to her Country, by the…
Quincy Decr. 29 1818 My dear Daugher Your Journal to the 20th has Sett me on fire. Give my respectfull Compliments to Mr Clay and tell him that I Sincerely…
Quincy April 2d. 1819. My dear Daughter Your three last journals are three Pearls—I have not been able to thank you for either—untill now, they bear the form and impression…
Quincy April 4th 1819 my dear daughter your journals grow more and more entertaining and instructive—you ask my Opinion of General Jackson—and you shall have it—Hero and a Conqueror I…
Quincy April 8th 1819 my dear daughter your Journal interesting to me like all the former, has been received up to the 29th of March.— The people of this Country…
Quincy May 25th. 1819 my dear Daughter Human Life has been to me a State of trial from my Cradle to this seventh month of my Eaighty fourth year.— I…
Bloomingdale 7. aoust 1819. Je viens d’apprendre avec bien du plaisir bonne et aimable dame que nous vous verrions bientôt ici, et j’espère pour vous un temps un peu moins…
Montezillo November 3d. 1819— My dear Daughter I can hardly believe my Eyes when I look upon your letter of the 13th. of October at Philadelphia, and recollect that it…
Montezillo Novber. 29—1819 my dear Daughter one week more will effectually relieve you from your ennui which perhaps may be succeeded by fatigues more difficult to bear—if not more dangerous…
Montezillo Janry. 29th. 1820— my dear daughter I have this moment received your journal up to the 15th. of this Month—and I hasten to answer the last question in it…
27th March 1820. Mr. Calhoun’s best respects to Mrs. Adams, and he is happy to state, that on an examination of the case of Mr Boyd, he found he could…
Montezillo June 17th. 1820 my dear daughter I have received your journal to the third of June—which is entertaining and Instructing as usual— We have reports in circulation here that…
Montezillo June 21st. 1820 My dear Daughter I have received your journal to the third of June—which is entertaining and Instructing as usual— We have reports in circulation here that…
Montezil [lo] December 22d—1820 My Dear Daughter This day two hundred years our adventurous Ancestors landed at Plymouth—and two years hence will compete two hundred years since a more jolly…
Montezillo January 5th. 1821 my dear daughter If after your example I could have keept a Journal—from the fifteenth of November, to the eighteenth of December—I could have given you…
Little Hill May 3d 1821 My dear Daughter I hope We have not forgotten each other! We wait with impatience for the weighty and immeasurable Report. I am afraid I…
Washington 2. August 1821 My dearest Friend. Yesterday I received your Journal to the 27th. and landing you at Quincy—It would have put me quite in Spirits, but for the…
Washington 11. August 1821. My dearest Friend. Your Letter of the 3d. instt. only reached me yesterday—You reason exceedingly well both upon my real character, and upon that of which…
Montizillo 11 Nov 1821 My dear daughter I have to thank you for two amiable letters—the last is of too great importance for me to answer to your satisfaction or…
Washington 10. July 1822. My dearest Friend. Receiving on Sunday your rebuke for the blank covers I had forwarded to you, I should have felt it more severely had I…