John Quincy AdamsNew York Times–Bestselling Author: An “extraordinary portrait of an extraordinary man” who accomplished much yet never sought attention or acclaim (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). One of January Magazine’s Best Books of the Year He fought for General Washington, served with Abraham Lincoln, witnessed Bunker Hill, and sounded the clarion against slavery on the eve of the Civil War. He negotiated an end to the War of 1812, engineered the annexation of Florida, and won the Supreme Court decision that freed the African captives of the Amistad. He served his nation as minister to six countries, secretary of state, senator, congressman, and president. John Quincy Adams was all of these things and more. This “captivating” biography (Sacramento Bee) reveals Quincy Adams as a towering figure in the nation’s formative years and one of the most courageous figures in American history—the first entry in John F. Kennedy’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Profiles in Courage. A magisterial biography and a sweeping panorama of American history from the Washington to Lincoln eras, John Quincy Adams follows one of the nation’s most important yet least-known figures. “First-class history from cover-to-cover . . . Nobody is better-equipped to write this biography, and we’re lucky that Unger has told the story of this underrated American icon, legendary diplomat, and tireless advocate of everything that is just and righteous in our country.” —Louisville Courier-Journal “In the best tradition of David McCullough’s biographies, the pace and plotting pull readers forward even though they may know the ending . . . Masterful.” —Library Journal |
Contents
| 1 | |
The Seeds of Statesmanship | 29 |
The Land of Lovely Dames | 47 |
He Grows Very Fat | 63 |
Never Was a Father More Satisfied | 87 |
A Free Independent and Powerful Nation | 107 |
A Profile in Courage | 123 |
Diplomatic Exile | 145 |
Stepladder to the Presidency | 179 |
The Great and Foul Stain | 199 |
The End of the Beginning | 229 |
A New Beginning | 259 |
Freedom Is the Prize | 285 |
Notes | 315 |
Bibliography and Research Resources | 339 |
| 349 | |
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Common terms and phrases
AA to JQA Abigail Adams Adamses American ships Andrew Jackson AP MHS appointment asked Boston Britain British brother called Charles Francis Charles Francis Adams congressional Constitution czar December declared Diaries diplomatic election England Europe father February federal Federalists Florida foreign France French friends Gag Rule George Washington Adams Harvard Henry Clay honor husband Ibid independence James Monroe John Adams John Quincy Adams John Quincy wrote July Lafayette later letter LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Louisa Adams Louisa Catherine Louisa Catherine Adams Louisiana Madison March Massachusetts Memoirs ment mother Napoléon negotiations Paris peace Petersburg petition political President John presidential Press Quincy and Louisa Quincy's reel Russian sailed secretary Senate slave slavery South Supreme Court territory Thomas Boylston Thomas Boylston Adams Thomas Jefferson tion treaty troops Union United vice president votes White House wife writing York