- Second president of the United States, 4 March 1797-4 March 1801.
- Was the first Vice-President.
- Father of John Quincy Adams, who was president when he died.
- Died the same day as Thomas Jefferson. Ironically, his last words were "Thomas Jefferson still survives." He was, however, wrong. Jefferson had died at 1 o'clock on the afternoon of July 4, 1826 - the Fiftieth Anniversary of American Independence. Adams died at six o'clock that evening.
- First president to live in the White House.
- Grandfather of Congressman Charles Francis Adams (1807-1886), who ran for Vice-President on a "Free Soil" Party Ticket in 1848, with Martin Van Buren as the candidate.
- Great-great-grandfather of United States secretary of the navy Charles Francis Adams III (1866-1954).
- Second Cousin of original Revolutionary firebrand and Governor Samuel Adams.
- Father-in-law of Congressman William Stephens Smith.
- Elected to the Hall of Fame for Great Americans in 1900 (inaugural election).
- In his failed bid for re-election as President in 1800, the difference between winning and losing was 250 votes in New York City.
- Before he left London, British General Sir William Howe was given a list of American rebels who were to be granted pardons. Adams' name was nowhere on that list.
- On November 2, 1800, he wrote to Abigail, "I pray heaven to bestow the best of blessings on this house and all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men rule under this roof." Those words were carved into the mantelpiece of the State Dining Room of the White House and are still there.
- Great-great-grandson of legendary Pilgrims John and Prisilla Alden.
- On 30 October 1825, he became the first former US president to reach the age of 90. He remained the only one to have done so until Herbert Hoover reached that age on 10 August 1964.
- He was staunchly opposed to slavery.
- He was the longest lived president until Ronald Reagan surpassed him in 2001. Reagan was later surpassed by Gerald Ford, then later by George H.W. Bush, than later by Jimmy Carter.
- His enemies in Congress nicknamed the short and heavyset Adams "His Rotundity.".
- He considered his wife Abigail his intellectual equal and often sought her advice on important issues.
- He was widely known as a stubborn and prideful man who did not get along very well with even his closest political allies and his argumentative personality is believed to have hindered his efforts as a leader.
- Since he was the first U.S. Vice-President and later the second U.S. President, his wife, Abigail has the unique titles of First Second Lady and Second First Lady.
- He and his son John Quincy Adams are the only US presidents of the first twelve that did not own slaves in their lives.
- Was the first President to outlive their first lady. As of 2023, eleven further Presidents have done the same.
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