Happy Birthday Abigail Adams 

U.S. #2146 – Adams was the fourth First Lady to appear on a U.S. stamp.

America’s second First Lady was born Abigail Smith on November 22, 1744 (November 11 in the Old Style calendar), in Weymouth, Massachusetts.

Much to Abigail’s regret, she never received formal schooling. Fortunately, she was raised in a home filled with the libraries of her father, grandfather, and also intelligent conversation. She learned to read and write, showing special interests in philosophy, theology, Shakespeare, the classics, ancient history, government, and law. Abigail was an avid history reader and recognized its importance and impact on her own life and surroundings.

In 1759, Abigail met a lawyer named John Adams. Within three years, the pair were writing love letters to each other. John called Abigail “Miss Adorable” and Abigail called John “Dearest Friend.” They were married on October 25, 1764, by her father, the Reverend Smith. Immediately following the wedding, the couple moved into a small cottage next to John’s childhood home.

U.S. #3496//3551 – These Love stamps have a portion of John and Abigail’s letters in their backgrounds.

In 1774, John Adams went to Philadelphia to serve as the Massachusetts delegate in the Continental Congress. This began a new series of letters between them, chronicling the Revolutionary and Federal eras and the public issues debated by America’s new leaders. Many of these letters recount Abigail’s advice to her husband and her observations of the press and citizens’ reactions to news of the American Revolution. They also detail her struggles with wartime shortages and inflation, challenges of raising five children and running a farm, and most of all, her loneliness without her husband.

U.S. #3497x – 2001 Love First Day Cover with Abigail Adams stamp.

When her husband was appointed to a diplomatic mission to Paris in 1784, Abigail joined him, along with their son, future President John Quincy, and daughter Nabby. She closely observed French manners and court, knowledge she would later put to use as First Lady. The following year, John was made America’s first Minister to Great Britain, where Abigail earned a reputation for dignity and tact. In 1788, the family returned home to Braintree (now Quincy), Massachusetts, to their home known as “Old House,” which Abigail spent a great deal of time and energy remodeling and enlarging.

U.S. #2146 Silk Cachet Combination First Day Cover.

In 1789, Abigail became the first Second Lady of the United States, when her husband was elected Vice President of the United States. She developed a close relationship with First Lady Martha Washington, who often called on Abigail for assistance in entertaining, recalling her experiences in the courts and societies of Europe.

Following eight years as Vice President, John Adams was elected President of the United States in 1797. Abigail continued her formal entertaining and was the first hostess of the White House while it was still under construction. Abigail was also very active in politics and policy, earning her the nickname “Mrs. President.”

U.S. #2146 Fleetwood First Day Cover.

Abigail often wrote editorial letters in attempts to help her husband’s administration and spread the word about important events and policies. Two issues that were most important to her were women’s rights and slavery. As early as the 1770s, Abigail was an adamant supporter of women’s rights to equality. She believed that women deserved many of the same rights as men, and that they shouldn’t be expected to follow laws that weren’t written for them. She believed above all that women deserved to be educated and should have the same legal status as men. She was also adamantly against slavery. She believed it was not only evil, but dangerous to the American democracy.

Item #M85-39 – Abigail Adams Maximum Card.

In March 1801, following the loss of re-election to former family friend Thomas Jefferson, John and Abigail returned to their Braintree home. At first, Adams and Jefferson lost contact over political beliefs, but following the death of Jefferson’s daughter, Abigail wrote to the President, renewing their friendship. Abigail proudly followed her son John Quincy’s political career, but never got to see him serve as President. On October 28, 1818, Abigail died of typhoid fever. Her last words were, “Do not grieve, my friend, my dearest friend. I am ready to go. And John, it will not be long.”

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6 Comments

  1. A few slight corrections: Adams was named as America’s first “Minister” to Britain (like an ambassador), not as “Prime Minister.” In the election of 1800 which was decided by the electoral college in 1801, Adams did lose to Thomas Jefferson, but they hadn’t been friends for several years because of deep political differences while Jefferson was Vice President during Adams’ Presidency.

  2. The greatest of all “first ladies” of the United States, who fully deserves to be on one of the new Money bills in the near future. The US post office has produced throughout its existence many stamps rightly honoring George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Why did John Adams and his first lady not receive the same honor, outside the known Presidential series of stamps, as their contributions as founding persons have been equally great.

    1. I’m certainly in agreement. Abigail Adams was a remarkable lady, and their correspondence worthy of reading.

  3. This kind and dedicated woman is hard to find this days. She should be read by all First Lady of the nation and learned from it.

  4. Nice read about a former first lady. Eleanor Roosevelt features on a commemorative stamp of India using the Gandhian spinning wheel. ?

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