John Quincy Adams spent the most part of his youth in Europe.

The earliest image of John Quincy Adams, about age 10.

The Continental Education

When John Adams sailed to Europe in 1778 as a diplomatic envoy from the new United States, he brought his 10-year-old son John Quincy with him. JQ, as he was beginning to refer to himself, was a bright and scholarly child, and the Adams parents held high hopes for his future. If they could provide an exceptional education for an exceptional student, so much the better – and worth the serious dangers they were facing.

For most of the next seven years (fully half of JQA’s solid memory), he received the cream of a European classical education. He attended the finest schools available, and did not disappoint. He also made some companionable friends his own age.

Dr. Franklin

The Marquis.

Then too, he met many of his father’s highest ranking political peers: Dr. Benjamin Franklin, Francis Dana, Thomas Jefferson and the Marquis de Lafayette.

In addition to his academic/cultural achievements, he displayed a rare gift that eluded both his parents: a happy faculty for languages. By his adulthood, JQA would be master of several. Fluent in Latin and Greek, of course. Plus English, French, German and Dutch, passable in Russian, Italian and Spanish. It would stand him in excellent stead throughout his life.

Abigail and John Adams, non-linguists.

Not long after his mother and older sister joined his father in London, JQ made a decision, enthusiastically supported by his parents: to return to the United States, and finish his formal education at Harvard. His father considered him the “greatest Traveller, of his age.”

JQA’s sister Nabby. They were very close.

And at nearly 18, he was old enough and experienced enough to return home on his own.

Cross-Atlantic Travel Circa 1780

Transoceanic travel had not changed very much since the early days of global exploration. Ships relied on sail power. The voyage took anywhere between 5-7 weeks, depending on the vagaries of weather, the currents, the worthiness of the ship itself, and, in the 1770-80s, the seemingly endless wars between European nations.

Passengers brought their own food, beverage, entertainment – and bedding. A dozen passengers was considered a party! A bucket was the extent of sanitation. And, since so few passengers made the long and arduous voyage, they were asked to provide small favors and courtesies for their shore-bound comrades: carrying letters and packages, and arranging for proper forwarding when they reached their destination.

When John Quincy Adams (1767-1848) embarked on board the Courier de l’Amerique, bound for New York, he was tasked with caring for and delivering a half dozen greyhounds to General George Washington in Virginia – a gift of the Marquis de Lafayette. He also carried several letters to various people up and down the coast.

But in the main, it was an uneventful voyage, with little “company,” and plenty of time for the studious young man to devote to his books.

The Young Celebrity

Young JQA, painted by John Singleton Copley

Granted, being the son of a well-regarded political bigshot and likely candidate for high office in the fledgling new country was enough to attract attention in New York. But JQ had developed a well-considered reputation of his own. As his father had said, he truly was the best traveled (i.e. cosmopolitan) young man of his generation. During his few weeks in New York City, and before rejoining family members in Massachusetts prior to entering Harvard, he was wined and dined, hosted and regaled by the crème de la Manhattan, anxious for news, and perhaps a bit of brownie-points toward political preference.

Perhaps surprising himself, he was introduced as a young man of importance and credentials, as well as being his father’s son, now American minister to Great Britain. Young Adams was caught up in a whirl of dinner parties, excursions and other festivities, and met many of the notables of his day, most of whom would figure in his forthcoming career.

Gov. George Clinton of NY

He enjoyed a pleasurable meeting with John Jay, made more so since JQ had become great friends in Europe with Jay’s nephew Peter Jay Munro. He was introduced to Elbridge Gerry and Rufus King, James Monroe, Henry Knox and NY Governor George Clinton, (eventually Vice President).

Perhaps surprising the young man even more, was the interest these notables took in an 18-year-old fellow’s political opinions and reflections of Europe. They sought news of course, particularly regarding the recent peace treaty between Great Britain and the United States, and its various provisions that were still causing problems. Naturally young Adams had little comment on those political aspects, but he wrote a thorough summary of those concerns to his father, adding that “the politicians here wait with great impatience to hear from you.”

He was developing the skills and crafts of the superb diplomat he would become.

The Family Reunion

Brother Tom

Brother Charles

After three weeks in the social whirlwind of New York, he spent another ten days traveling back to Massachusetts by land (rather than by packet ship), in order to see more of the country. In Boston, he stayed with his Aunt Mary and Uncle Richard Cranch while he prepared for an advanced placement entrance examination to Harvard.

But mostly, he was delighted to see his two younger brothers, Charles and Thomas, who he had not seen in six years. He left them as little boys; now they were nearly full grown young men. He made a notable diary entry, “I shall not attempt to describe the different sensations…after so long an absence…the friends of my childhood and a number of my nearest and dearest relations. This day will be forever…one of the happiest I ever knew.”

But in some ways, he was a stranger in his own country. Much had changed. So had he.

Sources:

Kaplan, Fred – John Quincy Adams: American Visionary – Harper Collins, 2014

Unger, Harlow Giles – John Quincy Adams – DeCapo Press, 2012

https://millercenter.org/president/jqadams/life-before-the-presidency

https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/john-quincy-adams/