Abigail Adams biography
Abigail Smith Adams was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts on November 11, 1744 to the parents of William Smith, Congregationalist minister, and Elizabeth Quincy Smith. She was the second of five children (one brother and three sisters). Due to her perpetual childhood illnesses, she lacked a formal education; however, with the help of her fellow family members and available educational resources, she became an intelligent and prominent leader in the colonial American society.
As third cousins Abigail and John Adams had known each other for a while. When John accompanied a friend to the Smith household, he was immediately enticed by Abigail, a young woman of great intellect. She was 19 while John was just shy of 29 when they were married by her father. As a country lawyer with poor manners, John was not favored by Abigail's mother, but she eventually warmed up to the prospect of their marriage. In their early married life they lived in a small cottage John inherited from his father in Braintree, Massachusetts. There, they raised five children, two girls and three boys one of which was future Pres. John Quincy Adams. They later moved to Boston for John to further his career in law.
When John was elected president in 1796, Abigail became the first First Lady to live in the White House despite it being incomplete. While living in Washington, though, her health deteriorated. Somehow, Abigail still used her newly found political power to take an active role in women's rights and the evils of slavery. As an advocate for women's rights, particularly property rights and educational opportunities, she believed in the equality of both sexes. She believed that women should not be content with the current laws in which women were not favored. She also believed women should educate themselves to be able to stand up for their rights and help guide their children alongside their husbands. In a letter to her husband and the Continental Congress she expressed her desire for women to
As third cousins Abigail and John Adams had known each other for a while. When John accompanied a friend to the Smith household, he was immediately enticed by Abigail, a young woman of great intellect. She was 19 while John was just shy of 29 when they were married by her father. As a country lawyer with poor manners, John was not favored by Abigail's mother, but she eventually warmed up to the prospect of their marriage. In their early married life they lived in a small cottage John inherited from his father in Braintree, Massachusetts. There, they raised five children, two girls and three boys one of which was future Pres. John Quincy Adams. They later moved to Boston for John to further his career in law.
When John was elected president in 1796, Abigail became the first First Lady to live in the White House despite it being incomplete. While living in Washington, though, her health deteriorated. Somehow, Abigail still used her newly found political power to take an active role in women's rights and the evils of slavery. As an advocate for women's rights, particularly property rights and educational opportunities, she believed in the equality of both sexes. She believed that women should not be content with the current laws in which women were not favored. She also believed women should educate themselves to be able to stand up for their rights and help guide their children alongside their husbands. In a letter to her husband and the Continental Congress she expressed her desire for women to