The Graceful Louisa Adams

This week I have been able to spend a bit of time looking at the first First Ladies. From Martha Washington to Rachel Jackson, each of these ladies faced tremendous pressures and struggles, perhaps none more so than by Louisa Adams. Louisa was the wife of John Quincy Adams. She was born in England to an English mother and American father. This mixed birthright made life very difficult for her in the high-point of America's anti-British mood.

John Quincy was a good man, but not a warm one by any stretch of the imagination. After they were engaged, he left her with a list of books so that she could "improve her mind" while awaiting their wedding!

John Quincy forged an impressive career as an American diplomat before becoming President, and Louisa was able to travel with him throughout much of Europe. However, she would often be left behind as he went on to his next assignment. She had to travel across the Russian winter to catch up with him in France. As if that weren't bad enough, she was leaving behind the grave of her infant daughter, Louisa Catherine. My heart breaks as I think of what Louisa said at the loss of her only daughter, " My heart is buried in Louisa's grave, and my greatest longing is to be laid beside her."

Louisa Adams will go on to bury two adult sons and live through four supremely difficult years in the White House. After John Quincy's only term, they retired to Massachusetts. Political life summoned her husband again as he served in the House of Representatives from 1830 until his death in 1848.

The last years of their marriage seem to have brought them closer together. The loss of their children seems to have driven Louisa deeper into her faith, and my guess is that this mended much of the heartache and coldness of their marriage.

Louisa Adams, pictured here with her harp, brought elegance and a sweet long-suffering spirit to the position of First Lady. Although not as well-known as some of our other First Ladies, her story is a fascinating one.