The First Ladies #2: Abigail Adams

“Remember the ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors.”  -Abigail Adams  

Born: November 22, 1744  (Weymouth, Massachusetts, USA)
Died: October 28, 1818  (Quincy, Massachusetts, USA)
Years as First Lady: March 4, 1797 – March 4, 1801

Before the role of First Lady had a title or expectations, Abigail Adams quietly, and sometimes boldly, defined what it could be. She was not content to sit on the sidelines of history. Instead, she stepped into it with intelligence, conviction, and a determination to be heard.

Abigail received no formal education, yet she became one of the most well-read and insightful women of her time. She taught herself through books and conversation, developing a deep understanding of history, philosophy, and politics. When she married John Adams in 1764, their relationship quickly grew into a powerful intellectual partnership, one sustained through years of separation by hundreds of letters. Those letters remain one of the most vivid windows into life during the American Revolution. The Massachusetts Historical Society (Boston, Massachusetts) is the primary archive for the Adams family papers. It holds the original handwritten correspondence between Abigail and John among other documents. 

You can also find portions of their correspondence at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., and at the Adams National Historical Park, which includes the family home.

Abigail was far more than a supportive spouse. She was an advisor, confidante, and, in many ways, a political partner. While John helped lay the foundation for the new nation, she managed their farm, handled finances, and raised their four surviving children, including future president John Quincy Adams. One daughter died in infancy, and one daughter was stillborn. She proved herself to be a capable businesswoman during a time when women had very few legal rights.

Her voice extended beyond her household. Abigail was an early advocate for women’s rights and education, famously urging her husband to “remember the ladies” when shaping the new nation’s laws. She also spoke out against slavery, aligning herself with some of the more progressive ideas of her era.

As First Lady from 1797 she remained deeply engaged in political life, earning the nickname “Mrs. President” from critics. When the Adams family moved into the unfinished White House in 1800, Abigail met the challenge with practicality and resilience. The building was cold and incomplete, yet she made it livable, even using the East Room to hang laundry.

Fun Facts: Abigail Adams was the first First Lady to live in the White House, and during the Revolutionary War, she reportedly melted down her pewter spoons to make musket balls, turning everyday household items into tools for independence.

Carol Williams

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