Clocking in at just over 300 pages, Unger’s book covers a tremendous amount of ground in a short amount of time. Unger’s “John Quincy Adams” is an interesting and fast-paced – but not exhaustive – biography of our sixth president.

His latest work, on George Washington and the creation of the presidency, will be published in the next few weeks. Among his nearly two dozen books, Unger has authored biographies of James Monroe, John Hancock, Lafayette, Patrick Henry and Noah Webster. I learned that JQA was one of the really great ones in our nation’s history even if his term as President was largely forgettable.“ John Quincy Adams” is author and historian Harlow Unger’s most recently published biography. Unger draws a fine portrait of this man who lived his life on principle. He knew before he died that the Civil War would come and, to his mind it was probably needed. He was the greatest champion of abolition from the founding of the nation till the eve of the Civil War. And represent he did! Many Southerners hated him but his skill in legislative procedure and constitutional law made him THE force to be reckoned with. For years he became a Representative from Massachusetts where he saw himself representing the whole country. He was quite a discouraged man in those days and was an unpleasant and grumpy man. He took on several enemies at that time and he was never able to do anything as President. He actually lost the popular vote to Andrew Jackson and was voted in finally by the House of Representatives. Ha was, without a doubt, a believing Christian.Īfter a successful time as Monroe’s Secretary of State, he finally ran for President. As a parent, he suffered both the deaths of some of his children, he watched others turn out as alcoholics. His leaving her at times while on political conquests surely contributed greatly to his problems. He married a British lady and though he seemed fond of her, their marriage suffered deeply on several occasions. He had a close relationship with his parents. His experiences were incredible and before long he was on his own diplomatic missions.

Unger wells presents his early days and educational opportunities as well as getting to go on diplomatic missions with his father. He met George Washington and Abraham Lincoln! His life, without question, makes for sterling biography. Perhaps JQA gets overshadowed by his famous father, or perhaps it is because his actual term in office was a dud, but his long public career is in some ways unparalleled in our nation’s history. This time it is on the underrated John Quincy Adams. Harlow Giles Unger gives us another enjoyable presidential biography.

John quincy adams unger