John Quincy Adams - Early Life

By EmmettMullins

  • Birth

    Born in Braintree, Massachusetts, to John and Abigail Adams.

  • British Troops Arrive in Boston

    In response to tax protests, 4,000 British troops arrive in Boston.

  • Boston Massacre

    British soldiers fire upon a mob, killing five colonists. Attorney John Adams later defends the soldiers in court.

  • Move to Braintree

    Stressful life in Boston leads the Adams family back to Braintree.

  • Move to Boston

    The family returns to Boston so John can work better at his law practice.

  • Boston Tea Party

    A group opposed to the tea tax dumps tons of tea from ships in Boston Harbor.

  • Move to Braintree

    The Adams family moves from Boston to Braintree due to ongoing, violent anti-British protests.

  • Battle of Bunker Hill

    John Quincy and his mother watch the battle at a safe distance from the cannon fire.

  • Dysentery Epidemic

    John Quincy loses his grandmother and uncle to the disease. His mother and brother have severe cases, too.

  • 10th Birthday

    John Quincy's mother delivers a stillborn daughter.

  • Began Keeping a Diary

    JQA kept daily entries most of his life

  • School in Paris (learning French)

  • Dangerous Six-Week Atlantic Voyage to Paris

    Travel with John Adams to Paris to secure a treaty with France. The voyage takes about six weeks.

  • School in The Netherlands

    Traveling with his father on business.

  • Begin Work in Russia as a Translator

  • Return to Paris

  • Witnessed an Early Balloon Flight in Paris

    The Montgolfier Brothers' unmanned experimental balloon flight.

  • In Paris; John signs treaty Ending Revolutionary War

    John Quincy was in Paris with his father as he worked on the peace treaty, officially ending the war.

  • Visit England

    John and John Quincy visit England for several months.

  • Began study at Harvard (Massachusetts)

  • Graduated Harvard