Louisa Katherine Adams
Louisa Adams was born on
February 12, 1775, in London., The
illegitimate daughter of Joshua Johnson, an American merchant from Maryland.
She met John Quincy Adams at
her father's house in Cooper's Row, near Tower Hill, London. Her father had been appointed as United
States consul general in
1790, and Adams first visited him in November 1795. Adams at first showed
interest in her older sister but soon settled on Louisa. Adams, aged 30,
married Louisa, aged 22, on July 26, 1797. John Quincy Adams’s father (John
Adams) was then the current President of the United States.
Louisa was pregnant fourteen times, miscared nine times and one child was stillborn. Three sons and one daughter survived.
Her husband served in many different areas including in Russia before being elected
President in 1825. He only served one term and she was known as a great hostess
during that time.
The First Spouse Gold Coins Program was authorized by the
Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-145).
Her husband died at the Capitol in 1848. She remained in Washington until her death of
a heart attack on May 15, 1852, at the age of 77. The day of her funeral was
the first time both houses of the United States Congress adjourned in mourning
for any woman.
