Charles Francis Adams, Sr.
| Charles Francis Adams Sr. | |
|---|---|
 |
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| United States Minister to the United Kingdom | |
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In office May 16, 1861 – May 13, 1868 |
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| President |
Abraham Lincoln Andrew Johnson |
| Preceded by | George M. Dallas |
| Succeeded by | Reverdy Johnson |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 3rd district |
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In office March 4, 1859 – May 1, 1861 |
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| Preceded by | William S. Damrell |
| Succeeded by | Benjamin Thomas |
| Member of the Massachusetts State Senate | |
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In office 1844–1845 |
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| Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives | |
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In office 1841 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
August 18, 1807 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | November 21, 1886 (aged 79) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Spouse(s) | Abigail Brown Brooks |
| Alma mater | Harvard University |
| Profession | Politician, Lawyer |
Charles Francis Adams Sr. (August 18, 1807 – November 21, 1886) was an American historical editor, politician and diplomat. He was a son of President John Quincy Adams and grandson of President John Adams, of whom he wrote a major biography.
Adams served in the Massachusetts State Senate, before running unsuccessfully as vice-presidential candidate for the Free Soil Party in the election of 1848 on a ticket with former President Martin Van Buren. During the Civil War Adams served as the United States Minister to the United Kingdom under Abraham Lincoln, where he played a key role in keeping Britain neutral while southern agents were trying to achieve official recognition of the Confederacy. That meant conducting dialogue with both sides and monitoring the British connection in the supply of commerce raiders.
He became an overseer of Harvard University, and built Adams National Historical Park, a library in honor of his father in Quincy, Massachusetts.
He was born in Boston and attended Boston Latin School and Harvard College, where he graduated in 1825. He then studied law with Daniel Webster and practiced in Boston. He wrote numerous reviews of works about American and British history for the North American Review.
Charles Adams and his brothers, John and George, were all rivals for the same woman, their cousin, Mary Catherine Hellen, who lived with the John Quincy Adams family after the death of her parents. In 1828 John married Mary Hellen at a ceremony in the White House, and both Charles and George declined to attend.
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