Guest Author - Linda Sue Grimes

The only First Lady not born in the United States, Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams was born February 12, 1775 in London, England to Joshua Johnson, an American from Maryland, and Catherine Nuth Johnson, a Londoner. Because her father was an American, Louisa was an American citizen.

Education
From 1781-1783, Louisa Johnson was educated at a Roman Catholic convent school in Nantes, France, where she became so immersed in the French language that she later had to relearn English. She continued her education at an English boarding school from 1784-1789, where she studied mathematics, philosophy, drawing, and sewing. She was influenced by one of her teachers to become a critical thinker and to express herself on issues. From 1789 to 1793, she studied with a private tutor in London. About this time, she began writing poetry, essays, and plays.

Religion and Marriage
Louisa was a Catholic in France, an Anglican in England, and in 1837, she joined the Episcopal Church. She was 22 years old when she married the future sixth president of the United States, John Quincy Adams, in 1797. They had four children: three sons, George Washington Adams (1801-1829); John Adams II (1803-1834); Charles Francis Adams (1807-1886); and one daughter; Louisa Catherine Adams (1811-1812).

Rôle as First Lady
At age 52 in 1825, Louisa became the sixth First Lady of the United States. She served in that capacity until 1829. The Adamses had first moved to Washing in 1817, when John Quincy Adams became President Monroe’s Secretary of State. Louise performed as a gracious hostess for diplomats and other important state figures. Her Tuesday evening drawing room parties were enlivened with good music and spirited conversation, and she also organized theater parties. Her social graces earned her a reputation as a wonderful, capable hostess, despite the fact that she did not enjoy good health.

Louise also found the atmosphere of bitter politics not to her liking. But despite her bouts with depression, she continued her hostess duties. However, she much preferred the tranquility of solitary endeavors such as playing her harp, reading, and writing poetry. That she was still able to supply the required social gatherings as First Lady attests to her strength and moral character.

When her husband lost his re-election bid, Louisa thought she would be retiring to their home in Massachusetts; however, that was not to be, for only two years later, her husband began serving what turned out to be 17 years in the House of Representatives.

Fifty Years of Marriage
In 1847, Louisa and John Quincy Adams celebrated fifty years of marriage, which had included the many trials and tribulations of political life. They had survived the turbulence, at least in part because of their close relationship.

Death
Louisa died at age 77 May 15, 1852, outliving her husband by only four years. Both houses of Congress acknowledged by her death by adjourning; she was the first woman honored by this act. She was buried beside her husband in Quincy, Massachusetts, at the family church.

Reference:
Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams

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Books by Linda Sue Grimes:

Singing in the Silence: Poems of Faith
In 1978, I began studying the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda. I still study those teachings and strive to practice what I learn. I think of my writing as an extension and reinforcement of my spiritual studies. I am especially happy when the poems focus on my spiritual journey, as those in this volume do. I want to take sadness and turn it into joy, and I want to take anger and turn it into acceptance. But mostly, I want to acknowledge the beauty and mystery of God's presence in creation.



Jiggery Jee's Eden Valley Stories
Hello, my name is Jiggery-Jee. I live in Eden Valley. Eden Valley is located in the very center of the Land of the Imagination. Surrounding Eden Valley are such places as Tulip Grove, Carrot Valley, Bunnyville, Faultner Grove, and Flower Town. We have many residents in Eden Valley who came to the Valley from the surrounding places. They come here because Eden Valley is peaceful. All of the residents of Eden Valley work and play and live in an atmosphere of harmony. The weather is always perfect; the sun shines when we need sun, and the rain rains when we need rain. However, I must warn you that although things really are peaceful and harmonious in Eden Valley, sometimes they do not start out that way; we often have to work to make life peaceful and harmonious.
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