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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Abbott, Amos.-Born at Andover, Massachusetts, September 10, 1786. He was educated at a district school, but spent the most of his life as a trader and merchant. During the years 1835, 1836, and 1842, he was a Representative in the Massachusetts Legislature; and from 1840 to 1842 a member of the State Senate. He represented his native State in Congress from 1843 to 1849, and was a member of the Committees on the Militia, and on Manufactures.

Abbott, Joel.-Was born in Fairfield, Connecticut, emigrated to Georgia, and was elected a Representative in Congress, from Wilkes County, in that State, from 1817 to 1825, serving as a member of the Committees on Commerce and the Slave-Trade. Died November 19, 1826.

Abbott, Nehemiah.-Born in Sidney, Maine, March 29, 1806. He is a lawyer by profession; was a member of the House of Representatives, in the Maine Legislature, in 1842 and 1843, and was elected to the Thirty-fifth Congress, serving as a member of the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions.

Abercrombie, James.-He was born in Georgia, and, removing to Alabama, was a Representative in Congress, from that State, from 1851 to 1855.

Adair, John.-He was born in 1758; was a Senator of the United States, from Kentucky, during the years 1805 and 1806; commanded the Kentucky troops at the battle of New Orleans, under General Jackson; and was ap

pointed a general in the army. He was elected a Representative in Congress, from Kentucky, from 1831 to 1833, and was a member of the Committee on Military Affairs. He died at Harrodsburg, May 19, 1840.

Adams, Benjamin.-Born at Worcester, Massachusetts; was a member of the Legislature, as Representative, from 1809 to 1814, and as Senator, in 1814 and 1815; and from 1822 to 1825; and was a Representative in Congress from his native State, from 1816 to 1821, and was a member of the Committees on Revolutionary Pensions and Public Expenditures. He died at Uxbridge, Massachusetts, in April, 1837.

Adams, Charles F.-Born in Boston, August 18, 1807; spent the most of his boyhood in St. Petersburg and London, whilst his father was Minister to Russia and England; he graduated at Harvard University in 1825; studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1828; served three years in the Lower House, and two years in the Upper House of the Massachusetts Legislature; in 1848 he was the candidate for Vice-President on the ticket with Mr. Van Buren; and he was elected a Representative from Massachusetts to the Thirty-sixth Congress, serving as Chairman of the Committee on Manufactures. He was at one time the editor of a paper called the 'Boston Whig," has been a contributor to the North American Review, was the editor of the well-known Adams Letters, and is the author of the standard Biography of John Adams. Re-elected

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to the Thirty-seventh Congress, but was appointed by President Lincoln Minister to England in 1861. In 1864 the degree of LL.D. was conferred upon him by Harvard University.

Adams, Green.-Born in Barboursville, Knox County, Kentucky, August 20, 1812; was bred a farmer, but read law and adopted that profession; in 1832 and 1833 he was Deputy Sheriff of Knox County; in 1839, he was elected to the State Legislature, and re-elected; he was a Representative in Congress, from Kentucky, from 1847 to 1849, and was a member of the Committee on Engraving. He was also a Presidential Elector in 1844 and 1856, and a Judge of the Circuit Court of Kentucky from 1851 to 1856. In 1859 he was elected a Representative from Kentucky to the Thirtysixth Congress, serving on the Committee on Post-offices and Post-roads. In 1861 he was appointed by President Lincoln Sixth Auditor of the Treasury.

Adams, John.-Born at Braintree, Massachusetts, October 30, 1735; graduated at Harvard University in 1755; instructed a class of scholars in Latin and Greek for a subsistence; studied law, and having been admitted to the bar, settled at Quincy to practise his profession. As a member of the Old Congress, he was among the foremost in recommending an independent Government. In 1777, he was chosen Commissioner to the Court of Versailles. On his return he was chosen a member of the Convention called to prepare a form of government for Massachusetts. In September, 1779, he was appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to negotiate a peace, and had authority to form a commercial treaty with Great Britain. In June, 1780, he was appointed Ambassador to Holland; and, in 1782, he went to Paris to engage in the negotiation for peace, having previously obtained assurance that Great Britain would recognize the independence of the United States. After serving on two or three commissions to form treaties of amity and commerce with foreign powers, in 1785 he was appointed first Minister to London; and, in 1788, having been absent nine years, he returned to America. In March, 1789, the new Constitution of the United States went into operation, and he became the first Vice-President, which office he held during the

whole of Washington's administration. On the resignation of Washington, he became, March 4, 1797, President of the United States. This was the termination of his public functions; and he spent the remainder of his days upon his farm in Quincy, occupying himself with agriculture, and obtaining amusement from the literature and politics of the day. He died on the fourth of July, 1826, with the same words on his lips which, fifty years before, on that day, he had uttered on the floor of Congress: "Independence forever!" His principal publications are, "Letters on the American Revolution," "Defence of the American Constitution," an "Essay on Canon and Federal Laws," a series of letters under the signature of Novanglus, and Discourses on Davila. It was as Vice-President that he had a seat in the Senate.

Adams, John.-He was a Representative in Congress, from Greene County, New York, from 1833 to 1835, and was a member of the Committee on Invalid Pensions. He died at Catskill, New York, September 28, 1854.

Adams, John Quincy.-Born in Braintree, now Quincy, Mass., July 11, 1767. When ten years of age, he accompanied his father to France; and when fifteen, was private secretary to the American Minister in Russia. He was graduated at Harvard University in 1787; studied law in Newburyport, and settled in Boston. From 1794 to 1801 he was American Minister to Holland, England, Sweden, and Prussia. He was a Senator in Congress from 1803 to 1808; Professor of Rhetoric in Harvard University, with limited duties, from 1806 to 1808; was appointed, in 1809, Minister to Russia; assisted in negotiating the Treaty of Ghent, in 1814; and assisted, also, as Minister, at the Convention of Commerce with Great Britain, in 1815. He was Secretary of State under President Monroe; and was chosen President of the United States in 1825, serving one term. In 1831 he was elected a Representative in Congress, and continued in that position until his death, which occurred in the Speaker's room, two days after falling from his seat in the House of Representatives, February 23, 1848. His last words were: This is the end of earth; I am content." He published "Letters

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