Although not well known today, Charles Francis Adams was one of the most important figures in the history of the United States.  He was the son of John Quincy Adams, the sixth president of our country, and grandson of John Adams, the third president.  

His own political career was as interesting and varied as it was historical.  Charles was raised in unusual circumstances during his youth.  At the age of two, he lived in Russia while his father was Minister there, at which time Charles learned several languages.   His father then served as Minister to Great Britain, allowing Charles to attend English public schools.  Returning home, Charles attended Harvard College and later worked in the law offices of Daniel Webster.  Although he did pass the bar examination, he never had many clients.  During his political career, he was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representative and later to the State Senate.  Subsequently, Charles Francis was elected to the U.S. Congress.  And, in time, he was appointed by President Abraham Lincoln as Minister to Great Britain, following in his father and grandfather’s footsteps, and served there during the American Civil War.  The upper classes in England felt animosity toward the United States and verbally sided with the Confederates in their rebellion, despite England’s supposed neutrality.  Charles’ diplomacy eased the conflict between the European countries and America at the time of the Civil War.  

Charles Francis Adams contributed a great deal to international relations during a very volatile time for our country.  He was part of the grand history being made in the earlier years of our independence and was associated with many of the greatest political names of that century.