John Quincy Adams

1767 – 1848

John Quincy Adams served as the sixth president of the United States from 1825 to 1829 and as the eighth U.S. secretary of state from 1817 to 1825, during which he negotiated the Adams–Onís Treaty acquiring Florida and authored the Monroe Doctrine. After losing reelection he uniquely returned to Congress as a member of the House, where he spent 17 years championing the right to petition and the abolition of slavery. He successfully argued the Amistad case before the Supreme Court in 1841, securing freedom for African captives who had revolted against their enslavers.

Last checked: May 10, 2026, 1:06 PM