John Quincy Adams marries Louisa Johnson, first foreign-born first lady

On July 26, 1797, future President John Quincy Adams, the son of second President John Adams, marries Louisa Johnson in London, England. Louisa was for more than two centuries the only foreign-born first lady of the United States.

Born to English colonists living in Maryland before the Revolutionary War, Louisa was raised in a transatlantic world. In 1771, her father relocated the family to England and later moved to France as the American colonies fought for independence. Louisa, an intelligent and accomplished writer and musician, suffered from lifelong nervous ailments marked by extreme fatigue and fainting spells.

After returning to England in 1784, Louisa met a young American diplomat, John Quincy Adams, in 1795. They were engaged a year later and married in 1797. The couple remained in Europe until 1800, when John was summoned back to the United States after his father lost re-election to Thomas Jefferson.

Louisa’s transition to American political life was not smooth. Abigail Adams, her formidable mother-in-law and the former first lady, initially viewed Louisa as too delicate and unsuited for the rigors of public service. Early in her marriage, Louisa endured Abigail’s frequent interference—both in John’s political life and in the upbringing of their children.

In 1807, the couple returned to Europe, where John held diplomatic posts in Russia, Belgium and England until 1817. Shortly thereafter, President James Monroe appointed him Secretary of State. In 1824, John Quincy Adams ran for president. When no candidate secured a majority of electoral votes, the House of Representatives decided the outcome—choosing Adams over Andrew Jackson. He served one term, from 1825 to 1829.

Louisa supported her husband’s career but disliked the public scrutiny and social demands that came with being first lady. She never considered the White House home and blamed political life for the many trials her family faced. Their son George became addicted to opium and fathered a child out of wedlock. Another son, John, was expelled from Harvard, and a third, Charles, was caught soliciting prostitutes. After John and Louisa left the White House, George died by suicide. Amid these hardships, one bright moment came in 1828, when their son John married Louisa’s niece, Mary Catherine, in the first White House wedding for a president’s child.

During her husband’s presidency, Louisa increasingly felt emotionally distant from him. Summers apart provided her space to write poetry and plays, and she developed a strong interest in women’s rights. Despite her personal struggles, she remained a steadfast partner, especially after John returned to public service in 1831 as a U.S. congressman. Louisa supported his legal campaign to end slavery, helping him organize documents and arguments.

On February 21, 1848, John Quincy Adams suffered a stroke on the floor of the House of Representatives. Louisa stayed at his side until his death at age 80 two days later. She suffered her own stroke at age 77 the following year and died in 1852.