Adams, Louisa Johnson (1775-1852), was the wife of John Quincy Adams, who served as president of the United States from 1825 to 1829. (1775-1852), was the wife of John Quincy Adams, who served as president of the United States from 1825 to 1829. Mrs. Adams—whose maiden name was Louisa Catherine Johnson—was for many years the only first lady born in a foreign country. She was born in London on Feb. 12, 1775. Her father was a Maryland merchant working in London. He later held the diplomatic post of United States consul to that city. In 2017, Melania Knauss Trump, the wife of President Donald Trump, became the second foreign-born first lady. Mrs. Trump was born in a part of Yugoslavia that is now the eastern European nation of Slovenia.
Louisa Johnson and John Quincy Adams married on July 26, 1797. Louisa was known as a woman of social grace and intelligence. These traits helped make her a skillful hostess at social functions. She arranged and hosted balls and other events to help her husband further his career.
The family moved to the White House when John Quincy Adams became president in 1825. Mrs. Adams suffered from poor health while in the White House, but she carried out her duties as first lady. Her activities included organizing a brilliant series of parties during the visit of the Marquis de Lafayette in 1825. She wrote plays while first lady, probably to be acted out by family members when they were together. In other writings, she expressed dissatisfaction with the role of women.
The Adamses had four children. Only one, Charles Francis, outlived the parents. He served as United States minister to Britain from 1861 to 1868 and died in 1886. The other children were Louisa Catherine, who died in infancy in 1812; George Washington Adams, who died in 1829; and John, who died in 1834. Mrs. Adams died on May 15, 1852.
See also Adams, John Quincy .
