Charles Adams (1770–1800)

For other people named Charles Adams, see Charles Adams (disambiguation).
Charles Adams
Born May 29, 1770
Quincy, Massachusetts
Died November 30, 1800(1800-11-30) (aged 30)
New York City[1]

Charles Adams (May 29, 1770 – November 30, 1800) was the second son of President John Adams and his wife, Abigail (Smith) Adams. After struggling with alcoholism for many years, he died of cirrhosis of the liver on November 30, 1800.[2]

At the age of nine, he traveled with his father and older brother John Quincy to Europe, studied briefly in Passy, Amsterdam, and Leiden. He matriculated in Leiden January 29, 1781.[3][4]

In December 1781, Adams returned to America unaccompanied by family members. After graduating from Harvard University in 1789, he studied law and established his practice in New York City.

On August 29, 1795, Adams married Sally Smith (1769–1828), the sister of his brother-in-law, William Stephens Smith. They had two daughters, Susanna Boylston (1796–1884) and Abigail Louisa Smith (1798–1836). At the age of 37, Abigail Louisa died of uterine cancer.[5]

Depictions in popular culture


In 2008, HBO presented the miniseries entitled John Adams based on the book by David McCullough. This biographical presentation represents Charles Adams (played by Irish actor Kevin Trainor) as a drunken, irresponsible man with weak character who brings disgrace to his family and is disowned by his father, President John Adams. However, the series also depicts President Adams' actions as a possible influence on Charles's development; he was a frequently absent father whose political life separated him from his family for extended periods, and he did not approve of Charles's choices as an adult. Historians, however, have pointed out the inaccuracies of the series' representation of their relationship.[6]

Family tree

References

  1. ↑ "The Adams Children". American Experience. PBS. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  2. ↑ "Lives of the First Ladies".
  3. ↑ Album Studiosorum Academiae Lugduno Batavae MDLXXV-MDCCCLXXV, kol. 1136.
  4. ↑ Index to English speaking students who have graduated at Leyden university / by Edward Peacock, F.S.A. - London : For the Index society, by Longmans, Green & co. 1883, p. 2, 1136.
  5. ↑ genealogy.cfm#charles The Massachusetts Historical Society
  6. ↑ Jeremy Stern (October 27, 2008). "What's Wrong with HBO's Dramatization of John Adams's Story". History News Network. Retrieved March 18, 2011.

External links

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