Abigail Adams, nee Smith, was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts, on November 11, 1744. She was the second child of William and Elizabeth (Quincy) Smith. Her father was a Congregationalist Minister, and her mother's father was quite politically active. An avid reader, Abigail was not formally educated, but was taught at home and explored her father's extensive library. She had a wide range of interests and areas of knowledge, from Shakespeare and the classics to government and philosophy. At the age of nineteen, she married a lawyer named John Adams in her family's home. Eventually John and Abigail acquired a large farm and raised five children.
Politically, Abigail was always interested in her husband's affairs. This is evident in their extensive letters to one another, which include debates about contemporary issues. In fact, Abigail and two other women were appointed during the War for Independence to question women who were known Tories. Along with this semi-official political position, Abigail called for equality of the sexes in rights and education, as well as emancipation of slaves.
As First Lady, she was an ardent Federalist and openly supported her husband's administration. Her opinions were well known and even quoted in the press, in which she frequently appeared anyways. She took her role as First Lady very seriously. Even after her husband's single term as President, she continued to be interested in political issues, and even helped reestablish her husband's broken relationship with Thomas Jefferson, who was a serious Anti-Federalist. Abigail died in 1818 at the age of seventy-three, in her home at Quincy, Massachusetts. She and her husband are buried together at the First Unitarian Church in Quincy.
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