20 Fascinating Facts About Abigail Adams


 

Abigail Adams, a groundbreaking character of the American Revolutionary War, is remembered for her knowledge, resilience, and uncompromising commitment to liberty and equality. Born in 1744, she bucked cultural norms by bravely navigating the turbulent seas of a fledgling nation. Along with her husband, John Adams, she helped mould the direction of American history with her eloquent correspondence and wise guidance.

Abigail’s fierce passion and plea for women’s rights, encapsulated in her renowned “Remember the Ladies” letter, have inspired generations of women. Join us on a fascinating trip into the life of Abigail Adams, a visionary whose legacy lives on.

1. Abigael was 11 days older with the birth of the Gregorian Calendar

Abigail Adams.jpg , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Abigail Adams was born on November 11, 1744, under the Julian calendar, 11 days behind the Gregorian calendar. This means that her actual birthdate is November 22, 1744.

The Julian calendar was the most widely used in the world for centuries. However, it was not perfectly accurate, and over time, it became increasingly out of sync with the Earth’s orbit around the sun. In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII introduced a new calendar, the Gregorian calendar, which was more accurate and could be kept in sync with the Earth’s orbit.

Today, the Gregorian calendar is the most widely used in the world. It is the calendar that is used for international business and diplomacy, and it is also the calendar that is used for most religious holidays.

2. Abigael was well educated even though she never attended a formal school

Abigail Adams was able to become so well-educated despite never attending formal school. She was a testament to the power of self-education and the importance of having a supportive family.

Abigail was fortunate to have a father who was a Congregationalist minister. Ministers were typically well-educated men, and they often taught their children to read and write. Abigail’s father also had a large library, which gave her access to a wide range of books. Her husband, John Adams, a graduate of Havard is also credited with having impacted her knowledge of life.

Abigail was a voracious reader. She read books on history, philosophy, literature, and religion. She also enjoyed reading poetry and fiction. Abigail’s love of reading helped her to develop a deep knowledge of many different subjects.

3. She married John Adams in 1764

Official Presidential portrait of John Adams (by John Trumbull, circa 1792).jpg , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Abigail and John Adams were deeply in love and shared a lifelong intellectual and emotional bond. They were married for 54 years, and during that time they wrote over 1,100 letters to each other. Their letters reveal a deep respect and admiration for each other’s intelligence, wisdom, and character.

Abigail was a strong supporter of John’s political career. She encouraged him to fight for independence from Great Britain, and she helped him to write some of his most important speeches and documents. John, in turn, relied on Abigail’s advice and counsel throughout his career.

Abigail and John Adams were also best friends and confidants. They shared their deepest thoughts and feelings. They supported each other through difficult times, and they celebrated each other’s successes.

4. She was a strong supporter of the American Revolution

The Colored Patriots of the American Revolution Frontispiece Engraving.jpg , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Abigail Adams was a strong supporter of the American Revolution. She was convinced that the American colonies had the right to be independent from Great Britain, and she urged her husband, John Adams, to fight for independence.

In her letters to John, Abigail wrote about the dangers of British tyranny and the importance of fighting for freedom. She also wrote about the sacrifices that the American people were making in the war effort.

Abigail’s letters to John were a source of strength and support for him during the war. They helped him to stay focused on the importance of the cause and to persevere through difficult times.

5. Abigail Adams left behind a substantial correspondence of the United States

Abigail Adams’ legacy reaches well beyond her role as the country’s second First Lady. Her extensive correspondence, a treasure trove of over 1,100 letters, provides an intimate and vital view into the United States’ early years. She conveyed her keen views, profound political convictions, and unshakable love for her family through her written diaries.

Her letters to her husband, other significant individuals of the time, and her friends are a historical treasure trove, giving light on the problems, successes, and aspirations of a fledgling nation. Abigail’s remarks continue to add to our understanding of early American life.

6. She was an early advocate for women’s rights

Abigail Smith Adams LCCN2004682096.jpg , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Abigail Adams was an early advocate for women’s rights. Her famous letter to John Adams in 1776 is one of the earliest and most eloquent arguments for women’s equality.

In her letter, Abigail Adams urged her husband to remember women when drafting the laws of the new nation. She warned him that men would be tyrants if they were given too much power, and she argued that women should have the same rights as men.

Her letter inspired other women to speak out for their rights. It also helped to lay the foundation for the women’s rights movement in the 19th century.

7. She served as the second Lady of the United States from 1789 to 1797

Abigail Adams served as the second Lady of the United States from 1789 to 1797. She was a gracious and popular hostess at the White House, and she also played an important role in her husband’s political career.

As the second Lady, Abigail Adams set the standard for the role of the First Lady. She was a skilled diplomat and entertainer, and she helped to establish the White House as a centre of social and political life.

Abigail Adams also played an important role in her husband’s political career. She was his closest advisor and confidant. She helped him to write speeches and documents, and she advised him on political strategy.

8. Abigael was a close friend of Thomas Jefferson

Official Presidential portrait of Thomas Jefferson (by Rembrandt Peale, 1800)(cropped).jpg , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Abigail Adams and Thomas Jefferson were close friends, despite their political differences. They exchanged letters for many years, and their correspondence is a valuable source of information about the early days of the American republic.

Adams and Jefferson were both committed to the ideals of the American Revolution, but they had different political philosophies. Adams was a Federalist, while Jefferson was a Democratic-Republican. Despite their differences, they respected each other’s intelligence and wit.

Their letters reveal a deep friendship and a shared commitment to the American experiment. They discussed a wide range of topics, including politics, philosophy, literature, and religion. They also shared their thoughts and feelings.

9. She was the first First Lady to live in the White House

Abigail Adams was the first First Lady to live in the White House. The White House was still under construction when John Adams took office in 1800, but Abigail and their daughter Abigail Adams Smith moved into the unfinished building on November 1, 1800.

The White House was not completed until 1809, but Abigail Adams made the best of the situation. She set up a household in the unfinished building and began to decorate it in her style. She also held social events at the White House, even though it was still under construction.

10. Abigael was a talented writer

Abigail Smith Adams MET 260752.jpg , CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Abigail Adams was a talented writer. Her letters to John and other friends and relatives are full of her keen observations on politics, society, and culture. She was also a gifted poet and essayist.

Abigail Adams’s writing is characterized by its clarity, intelligence, and wit. She was able to write about complex topics in a way that was both informative and engaging. She was also a skilled satirist, and she used her writing to criticize the British government and to advocate for American independence.

11. She was a devout Christian

Abigail Adams was a devout Christian. Her faith played an important role in her life, and she often turned to God for strength and guidance.

Adams was raised in a Congregationalist household, and she attended church regularly throughout her life. She believed that Christianity was the foundation of American society, and she wrote frequently about the importance of religion in her letters to John and others.

12. Abigael was a skilled diplomat

Abigail Adams by Christian Schussele detail.jpg , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Abigail Adams was a skilled diplomat. She accompanied her husband, John Adams, to France and England, where he served as the American ambassador. Abigail used her social skills to promote American interests and to build relationships with foreign leaders.

Abigail’s diplomatic skills were particularly valuable in France. France was a key ally of the United States during the American Revolution, and Abigail helped to maintain and strengthen the relationship between the two countries. She also helped to promote American trade and investment in France.

13. She was a patron of the arts

“The arts are the soul of a nation. They are what makes us human and what distinguishes us from other animals. We must support our artists and writers so that they can continue to create works that enrich our lives.”  was one of Abigael’s greatest quotes on arts.

Abigail Adams was a patron of the arts. She supported American artists and writers, and she helped to establish a cultural scene in the early United States.

Adams believed that the arts were an important part of a civilized society. She also believed that the arts could help to promote American culture and values.

Abigail Adams supported American artists in several ways. She commissioned works of art for the White House and her own home. She also attended art exhibitions and promoted American artists to her friends and acquaintances.

Some examples of American artists and writers that Abigail Adams supported include John Singleton Copley,  Gilbert Stuart, Benjamin West, Phillis Wheatley, Judith Sargent Murray,  and Susanna Rowson.

14. Abigael Adams was a fashion icon

Abigail Adams at age 21.png , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Abigail Adams was a fashion icon. She was known for her elegant and tasteful dress. She was also a trendsetter, and she helped to introduce new styles of clothing to the United States.

Adams’s fashion sense was influenced by the latest styles from France and England. She wore elaborate gowns made of silk, satin, and velvet. She also wore fashionable accessories, such as hats, gloves, and fans.

Adams’s fashion sense was admired by her contemporaries. She was often described as one of the most stylish women in America. She also helped to promote American fashion by wearing the designs of American dressmakers.

15. She was a pioneer for women in education and employment

Abigail Adams was a pioneer for women in education and employment. She believed that women should have the same educational and employment opportunities as men. She encouraged her daughters to pursue their education, and she supported women who worked outside the home.

Adams’s views on women’s education and employment were radical for her time. In the 18th century, most women were not expected to get a formal education or to work outside the home. Adams, however, believed that women were just as capable as men, and she wanted them to have the same opportunities to succeed.

16. She was a health advocate

Adams spoke out about the importance of public health measures. She supported the construction of hospitals and quarantine facilities. She also advocated for vaccination programs to prevent the spread of disease. She was a strong believer in the importance of good health, and she promoted healthy eating, exercise, and preventive care.

Adams was ahead of her time in her understanding of the importance of preventive care. She believed that it was better to prevent illness than to treat it after it occurred. She also believed that everyone, regardless of their social status or income, deserved access to quality healthcare.

17. She was a social activist

Abigail Adams was a social activist. She spoke out against slavery and other social injustices, and she was a supporter of public education and other social programs.

Adams was born into a wealthy and educated family, but she was aware of the suffering of the poor and oppressed. She believed that slavery was a moral evil, and she urged her husband and other leaders to work for its abolition.

Adams also spoke out against other forms of injustice, such as gender discrimination and religious intolerance. She believed that all people were created equal, and she advocated for equal rights for all.

18. She was a mother of presidents

John Q. Adams-edit.jpg , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Abigail Adams, a shining example of wisdom and decency, had a tremendous impact on the highest levels of American authority. Her maternal ancestors had one of the most extraordinary chapters in American history. She was the proud mother of her eldest son, John Quincy Adams, who became the nation’s sixth commander-in-chief in 1824.

Their extraordinary mother-son relationship produced a tremendous legacy, connecting two presidents in a single household. Abigail’s tenacious energy and wise counsel outlasted her time, leaving an indelible imprint on the highest offices of the country and the trajectory of American history.

19. Abigail faced numerous health challenges in her later years

Throughout her life, Abigail Adams, a lady of unyielding determination, faced a succession of difficult health issues. Migraines, which cause tremendous agony, were a frequent foe she confronted with courage. Her struggle with breast cancer is a monument to her fortitude in a period when medical therapies were limited.

Despite her health problems, she remained a significant character in American history, unwaveringly supporting her husband and actively engaging in the turbulent events that moulded the nascent nation. Abigail’s fortitude in the face of personal suffering adds to her extraordinary character and lasting impact.

20. She openly wished for a military celebration during the Independence Day

Declaration of Independence (1819), by John Trumbull.jpg , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Abigail Adams famously wrote to John on July 3, 1776, about her opinion about the trend to be followed as far as the American Independence Day is concerned. The letter read, “This day is the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as a great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts.” 

Abigail Adams’s vision for Independence Day as a day of national celebration came true. The day was celebrated with pomp and parade. July 4th is now one of the most important holidays in the United States, and it is celebrated with parades, fireworks, and other festivities all over the country.

Abigail Adams appears as a vivid thread in the fabric of American history, weaving her indomitable energy, intelligence, and unyielding ideals. Her letters, support for women’s rights, and strength in the face of medical obstacles continue to inspire. Abigail Adams is an everlasting icon of bravery, a guiding light in the annals of American history.

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