• Daguerreotype of John Quincy Adams
    Southworth and Hawes
    portrait
    This daguerreotype of former president John Quincy Adams is believed to be a copy by Southworth and Hawes of a lost original daguerreotype by Philip Haas. In his later years, President Adams was photographed wearing his usual outfit: a black double-breasted coat, black trousers, and black leather shoes. These clothes represent the typical daywear of the 1850s. The shoes, which are split at the vamp, are fastened with shoelaces, and the large, stiff necktie resembles a black stock. These simple, tailored garments show that Adams’s preference for elegant dress lasted well after his time as president. John Quincy Adams was the son of President John Adams and First Lady Abigail Adams. Prior to his presidency, President Adams was a diplomat to the Netherlands, Prussia, Russia, and the United Kingdom. He served as Secretary of State under President James Monroe and is the only president who went on to serve in the United States House of Representatives after being president. Adams represented his home state, Massachusetts, in the House.
  • Print of President John Quincy Adams
    Thomas Gimbrede
    print
    portrait
    Cabinet
    This print of President John Quincy Adams, made by Thomas Gimbrede in 1826, suggests how Adams may have dressed during his time as Secretary of State. Adams is pictured here wearing a black morning coat and breeches, in line with his preference for simple, formal styles. His short haircut marked another first; Adams was the earliest president to adopt this style, rather than the long powdered hair typically associated with early presidents.
  • Daguerreotype of John Quincy Adams
    Philip Haas
    portrait
    This daguerreotype, a type of photograph, of President John Quincy Adams was taken in 1843 by Philip Haas. John Quincy Adams is believed to be the first former president to be photographed following the invention of the daguerreotype in 1839. Adams was particularly fond of photographs, writing about his experience, “I walked this morning to Mr Haas’s shop, and he took from his camera obscura, three Daguerrotype likenesses of me— The operation is performed in half a minute; but is yet altogether incomprehensible to me… It would seem as easy to stamp a fixed portrait from the reflection of a mirror; but how wonderful would that reflection itself be, if we were not familiarised to it from childhood.” Adams’s appreciation for photography was the beginning of a new period in which the presidential image could be recorded and shared with greater accuracy. John Quincy Adams was the son of President John Adams and First Lady Abigail Adams. Prior to his presidency, President Adams was a diplomat to the Netherlands, Prussia, Russia, and the United Kingdom. He served as Secretary of State under President James Monroe and is the only president who went on to serve in the United States House of Representatives after being president. Adams represented his home state, Massachusetts, in the House.
  • Portrait of Young John Quincy Adams
    Izaak Schmidt
    portrait
    This pastel on vellum portrait of future president John Quincy Adams was created by Izaak Schmidt in 1783. Beginning in 1779, John Quincy Adams kept a detailed diary, recording his daily activities in Europe. Though he occasionally mentioned his dress in passing, he provided little description, focusing instead on his studies and travels. In 1783, while staying in The Hague, Adams sat for a portrait. This painting reflects how his style as a young man was influenced by the prevailing fashions of France and Great Britain. He is depicted wearing a slim-fitting frock coat with a wide, turned-down collar, a colorful waistcoat (possibly embroidered), and powdered hair; styles that were popular at the time among young men in Western Europe. John Quincy Adams was the son of President John Adams and First Lady Abigail Adams. Prior to his presidency, President Adams was a diplomat to the Netherlands, Prussia, Russia, and the United Kingdom. He served as Secretary of State under President James Monroe and is the only president who went on to serve in the United States House of Representatives after being president. Adams represented his home state, Massachusetts, in the House.
  • Silhouette of John Quincy Adams
    H. Williams
    silhouette
    likeness
    portraits
    This ink on paper silhouette portrait of future president John Quincy Adams was created by Henry Williams (professionally knowns as H. Williams) in 1809 and depicts Adams wearing a top hat. Adams was an early adopter of the top hat, despite its decline in popularity in the late 1700s. By the early 1800s, top hats served as a sign of status, and fashionable men would not have been seen in public without the latest hat style. While Adams is not usually pictured wearing a hat in his portraits, in this 1809 silhouette, his top hat is in the popular fashion of the time, around six or seven inches tall, with a narrow brim curving downward at the front and back. Silhouette portraits were fashionable and readily available throughout Europe and the United States in the 1800s. John Quincy Adams was the son of President John Adams and First Lady Abigail Adams. Prior to his presidency, President Adams was a diplomat to the Netherlands, Prussia, Russia, and the United Kingdom. He served as Secretary of State under President James Monroe and is the only president who went on to serve in the United States House of Representatives after being president. Adams represented his home state, Massachusetts, in the House.
  • John Quincy Adams
    Bureau of Engraving and Printing
    portrait
    engraving
    This engraving of President John Quincy Adams was produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. John Quincy Adams was the son of President John Adams and First Lady Abigail Adams. Prior to his presidency, President Adams was a diplomat to the Netherlands, Prussia, Russia, and the United Kingdom. He served as secretary of state under President James Monroe and is the only president who went on to serve in the United States House of Representatives after being president. Adams represented his home state, Massachusetts, in the House.
  • John Quincy Adams, White House Collection
    G. P. A. Healy
    official portrait
    White House Collection
    This oil on canvas painting of President John Quincy Adams was done by George Peter Alexander Healy. Healy was one of the most popular and prolific portraitists of the mid-nineteenth century. John Quincy Adams was the son of President John Adams and First Lady Abigail Adams. Prior to his presidency, Quincy Adams was a diplomat to the Netherlands, Prussia, Russia, and the United Kingdom. He served as Secretary of State under President James Monroe and is the only president who went on to serve in the House of Representatives after being president. Adams represented his home state, Massachusetts, in the House.
  • Tiber Creek: The Bathers: John Quincy Adams Takes a Deadly Chance
    Peter Waddell
    south view
    This oil painting by artist Peter Waddell depicts a historical scene that occurred during John Quincy Adams' presidency. Adams liked to swim in the Tiber River, which ran to the south of the White House where Constitution Avenue is today. On June 13, 1825, Adams ventured to the river with his son John and his servant Antoine Michel Giusta. Adams and Giusta climbed into a small canoe. The leaky canoe quickly began to fill with water and was swept out toward the Potomac River. Adams survived the incident, thanks to the assistance of his servant; in his diary he noted: "By the mercy of God our lives were spared, and no injury befell our persons." Waddell conducted in depth historical research before painting the scene, which he completed in 2009 during Barack Obama's administration. This image is a different version of the painting than the one in 9390. ***Interior use only for publications***
  • John Quincy Adams, White House Collection
    Gilbert Stuart
    portriats
    White House Collection
    painting
    This portrait of John Quincy Adams, son of America's second president John Adams, was painted by renowned portraitist Gilbert Stuart in 1818. At the time, the younger Adams served as President James Monroe's secretary of state. Adams became president on March 4, 1825 and served until March 4, 1829. He is one of only two Presidents, along with Andrew Johnson, to serve in Congress after he left the White House. Adams served in the U. S. House of Representatives.