Adams was born in the town of Quincy, Massachusetts, to John Henry Adams and Susanna Boylston Adams. He graduated from Harvard College in 1755, taught at Worcester and studied law with Rufus Putnam, to be admitted to the bar in 1758.A writer at heart, Adams often wrote about various events and happenings in his world. In his early years his writings included a report of the argument of James Otis in the superior court of Massachusetts, and in his later years he wrote several memoirs, recollections and arguments based on his earlier writings.
Adams was a major actor in Massachusetts resistance to the Stamp Act. He wrote many documents arguing against Parliamentary authority over Massachusetts and the other colonies. One of the most influential members of the Continental Congress, he nominated George Washington as commander in chief and argued for independence from Britain rather than a negotiated settlement that would keep the colonies under Crown control. Surprisingly, he also defended in court the British soldiers who participated in the Boston Massacre.
Even though Adams was, in his own words, "obnoxious and disliked", he was sent to Europe after the Revolution both to gather support for the new nation and to negotiate treaties with Britain. He was ambassador to The Netherlands as well as the first ambassador to Great Britain. In between these duties, he found the time to write the constitution for Massachusetts.
John Adams was vice president during George Washington's two terms of office. He had no known input on Washington's decisions, and largely served as a tie-breaking vote in the U.S. Senate, a position which frustrated Adams.
As second president of the United States, John Adams enacted many policies meant to suppress the opposition political party of the time. He was widely unpopular, and lost the election of 1800 to Thomas Jefferson. He retired to his farm, and remained there until his death in 1826.