John Quincy Adams: The Homecoming

John Quincy Adams spent the most part of his youth in Europe.

The earliest image of John Quincy Adams, about age 10.

The Continental Education

When John Adams sailed to Europe in 1778 as a diplomatic envoy from the new United States, he brought his 10-year-old son John Quincy with him. JQ, as he was beginning to refer to himself, was a bright and scholarly child, and the Adams parents held high hopes for his future. If they could provide an exceptional education for an exceptional student, so much the better – and worth the serious dangers they were facing.

For most of the next seven years (fully half of JQA’s solid memory), he received the cream of a European classical education. He attended the finest schools available, and did not disappoint. He also made some companionable friends his own age.

Dr. Franklin

The Marquis.

Then too, he met many…