Silver Presidential Medal featuring John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams was the Sixth President of the United States and son of the Second President, John Adams. He served as Secretary of State, U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, U.S. Representative from that state and as United States Minister to the United Kingdom, Prussia, the Netherlands and Russia.
The list of his presidential accomplishments is short. He proposed ambitious programs for infrastructure and education most of which were left undone. The Erie Canal was completed during his Presidency which increased trade between the upper Midwest and the East Coast. He was a bitter rival of Andrew Jackson. Jackson and his supporters limited what Adams was able to do as President and limited John Quincy Adams’ Presidency to a single term. He was an Abolitionist and earned the nickname “Old Man Eloquent” when he served in the House of Representatives after his time as President. In 1841 he argued for the freedom of the slaves on the ship Amistad before the U.S. Supreme Court and won.
He is remembered for being an unusual President. He was likely the most physically fit man to ever occupy the White House as he walked three miles per day and often swam in the Potomac River where he nearly drowned. He was also gifted a pet alligator from General Lafayette, the French General who commanded American troops and fought alongside the Continental Army in the War for Independence.