Louisa Adams

Louisa Adams was born in England and was the First Lady to President John Quincy Adams, son of the former President of the United States.  John Adams. She and JQ Adams were married in 1797 however their marriage wasn’t a smooth one, it was filled with personality conflicts and disagreements due to Louisa’s upbringing in France. John Quincy was sent on a diplomatic mission to Prussia where Louisa found herself quite popular in the Prussian Court. Upon their return to the United States JQ became a senator and she gave birth to their three sons. In 1809 they were sent to Russia as John became Minister to the Russian Empire. They traveled Russia without their children which Louisa didn’t like. She detested Russia even though she was very popular throughout the Russian Court. During this time, she lost her daughter in childbirth. In 1814 John left Louisa in Russia whole he traveled to France to negotiate the Treaty of Ghent. In 1815 She took the dangerous journey that took 40 days to join him in France. Then on to England for two years before returning to America where he was appointed Secretary of State where Louisa became prominent cabinet wife and hostess to very important guests in Washington, DC. 

Louisa was great at networking and that networking became important when her husband ran for president in 1824. Upon his election win she moved to the White House where she found herself isolated and unsatisfied with her surroundings. At this point in time the President’s home hadn’t been completely restored after the British had set it afire. She was criticized at the condition of the President’s home as if it were her fault in the way, it was. As a result, she became a recluse and began writing, producing plays, essays, poems and ultimately an autobiography.  It would be interesting to read her autobiography, but I can’t find it. After her husband lost his reelection, they returned to Quincy Massachusetts and lived in a dwelling on the Adam’s property. John became restless and decided to tun for the House of Representative. He campaigned and won his election. Louisa was content in Quincy, Massachusetts, however, the dwelling in which they were living wasn’t conducive to winter living, so she followed John back to Washington, DC. While John Q. Adam was in the House, she became engrossed in politics this time around; she supported the issues surrounding the abolitionism movement and women’s rights movement in society.

As first lady, Louisa Adams suffered not only insecure effects of the condition of the President’s Home, but also becoming unpopular by the Congress and feelings of the inability of advancing within the Political arena. This caused Louisa and John drifting apart due to the stress that was inflicted upon them. As a result of this type of separation, the couple traveled separately for long periods of time.  Their communication also suffered. Louisa suffered loneliness while in Washington, DC. Because she was born in London England, she was considered a wannabe aristocrat and out of touch European. She fought back by having a biography of herself that emphasized her modesty and American heritage. Although it was published anonymously, she felt the wrath for it being published. For a first lady to be published was by far a first and she was subjected to further criticism for it.

Unfortunately, by 1848 she found herself a widow after Representative Adam fell after having a stroke while on Capitol Hill. Two days later John Quincy Adam’s died. One year later she had a stroke and subsequently died. Representatives on Capitol Hill closed the Capitol Building in mourning for Louisa Adam. This was the first and only time they have ever done this in the history of the House of Representatives.  

Artist and Author Elizabeth Kilbride is a former political operative, author, scriptwriter, historian, and journalist. business professional, creative artist, and life coach consultant. Ms. Kilbride holds a master’s in criminology and a BS in Business Management she stepped out of the loop for a while but is now back with a powerful opinion and voice in the direction of this country and our economy. As a life coach, she is available to counsel individuals to enjoy their dreams and a better life. Ms. Kilbride loves to travel and photograph her surroundings and is also a gourmet cook who loves to garden and preserve food for the winter months.