Wikijunior:Presidents of the United States/John Adams
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Someone who comes before another, usually in a position |
| Alumni | Graduates of a school |
John Adams was the second president of the United States. He also held other positions, including being George Washington's vice president before John himself became president. He also signed the Declaration of Independence. His son, John Quincy Adams, also served as president.
Early life
[edit | edit source]John Adams was born on October 30, 1735 in Braintree, Massachusetts. At the time, the Thirteen Colonies were still ruled by Great Britain. He had two younger brothers, Peter and Elihu (eh-lee-hoo). Unlike his predecessor, John Adams received much formal schooling. He attended school and also learned to speak Latin, the language spoken in Ancient Rome. When he was 15, he began studying at Harvard College (now Harvard University); since, seven more Harvard alumni have served as president of the United States.