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Saturday, May 29, 2021

First Lady #6

 

                                                         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. 

5 comments:

Debbie said...

oh no, illegitimate, even back in the day!! so sad about her pregnancies and miscarriages. she must have been a very strong woman living until the age of 77 was rare back in those days i think!!

as i read today, i wondered where your love for history comes from?!

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

Oue dinar ladies are to use admired and honored.

Mari said...

Another interesting post! She had a lot of sadness in her life.

Changes in the wind said...

Debbie, I am more interested in those who lived the History than history itself:)

Linda said...

Illegitimate and yet she met her future husband at her father’s house......what an amazing story about an amazing lady.