Wonder Woman of the Week: Abigail Adams
When people think of revolutionary thinkers of the American Revolution- they often think of founding fathers, but this week's Wonder Woman is often cited as the founding *mother* of the United States. Not only was Abigail Adams both the first Second Lady Wife of a vice president) and second First Lady (wife of a president), she was also the mother to another US president and the closest advisor to John Adams during the meetings of the revolutionary Continental Congress, the Constitutional Convention, and in his presidency. Adams is often cited as THE example of a First Lady- a spouse who carefully and intelligently advised her husband in both domestic and foreign policy and laid the foundation for women in American politics. Born Abigail Smith, young Abby was born in 1744 in the British colony of Massachusetts. Due to being sick for most of her childhood, Abigail did not receive any formal education, but instead benefited from her family teaching her to read, write, and even cipher- creating and translating coded messages. She also grew up reading both English and French literature- two sources of some of the greatest philosophical knowledge of the era.
Abigail Smith's first meeting with future husband John Adams did not go over smoothly. Her mother greatly protested their matchmaking as she detested Adam's country background as a lawyer from a backwater colonial town- but the two married nevertheless in 1764. Part of Adam's appeal for Abigail was her profound knowledge gained from a childhood filled with reading English and French philosophy- and while married, John trusted Abigail not only with the family's home in Boston, but also with the family finances- including investments. In the years leading up to the American Revolution, John Adams served as a delegate in the several Continental Congress meetings, and Abigail wrote to John frequently giving advice and advising him to remember the women fighting for independence as well. During the American Revolution, John Adams served as a representative for the revolution in Europe- predominantly in France where Abigail Adams spent her time in Paris not only managing the home she and her family lived in while abroad, but also socializing with French society. After the war, John Adams became an ambassador to Great Britain, where Abigail followed and even served as a temporary guardian to Thomas Jefferson's young daughter while in London.
John Adams was the first Vice President of the United States- making Abigail Adams the first Second Lady. Eight years later, John Adams became the second President of the United States- making Abigail the second First Lady. They were also the first couple to live in the White House- as President Washington served from his home in Virginia.Unlike Martha Washington, Abigail made several public appearances and refused to remain silent. She held large dinners once a week, hosted Independence Day festivities in Philadelphia annually, and spoke fervently for the cause of the abolition of slavery. After her husband's presidency, Abigail served as an unofficial advisor to her son's political career- first as the US ambassador to Russia and then as president himself. She also remained in close contact with Thomas Jefferson even when he and her husband had a falling out- consoling Jefferson following the death of his daughter Polly- who Abigail cared for while in London. Abigail died in 1818 of typhoid fever- the 19th Century's Covid-19- but is remembered as an unapologetic feminist, a religious abolitionist, and as the finest First Lady in United States history.
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