The Diaries of John Quincy Adams: Massachusetts Historical Society

The voyage of the Isabella from Mazatlan took 17 days. Upon its arrival in Honolulu Captain Briggs furnished the editors of The Polynesian, a Honolulu-based newspaper, with copies of American newspapers. The May 6 1848 edition presented news to its readers, including the death of America’s most venerated statesmen and the final direct link to the American Revolution.

“The venerable John Quincy Adams is no more,” quoting the Daily American Star. President James Polk’s announcement was quoted in full, followed by remarks delivered to Congress by House Speaker Winthrop.

“As a contemporary of the illustrious Washington, and almost a co-worker in laying the foundation of his country’s freedom and greatness, the name John Quincy Adams will be remembered in all future time as one of the illustrious sons of the American Republic,” stated the Polynesian. “In the year 1830, shortly after he retired from the Presidency, he descended, neither ungracefully, nor without advantage to the nation to a seat in the House of Representatives and had, up to the moment of his death, wielded an influence unequaled by any other member of that body, securing also for himself a greater share of attention and respect.”

In Jaunary 1849, Rev. Samuel C. Damon, editor and founder of The Friend, a Honolulu monthly newspaper, reflected that, “Nations have been overturned, families broken up, and multitudes in public and private life passed away. Most have gone, leaving no footprints on the shore of time which the hurrying tide of life will not soon efface. Not so with one memorable individual. John Quincy Adams will be remembered so long as one is found to appreciate the genuine patriotism and love true liberty.”

Adams was a prolific writer almost to his death on the floor of the House of Representatives. Thanks to a matching grant from the Save America's Treasures program to the Massachusetts Historical Society, anyone with online capabilities can view images of the 51 volumes of John Quincy Adams's diary in the Adams Family Papers at the Massachusetts Historical Society. Adams began keeping his diary, more than 14,000 pages, in 1779 at the age of twelve and continued until shortly before his death in 1848.

For one of the best biographies about the sixth President of the United States -and the only one to return to the House of Representatives- we highly recommend Mr. Adams’'s Last Crusade: John Quincy Adams’'s Extraordinary Post-Presidential Life in Congress by Joseph Wheelan.