John Quincy
Encyclopedia
Colonel John Quincy was an American soldier
, politician
and member of the Quincy political family
. His granddaughter Abigail Adams
named her son, John Quincy Adams
, in his honor. The city of Quincy, Massachusetts
is named in his honor, as well.
and established a homestead at Mount Wollaston, or Merry Mount, in what is present-day Quincy
. Daniel died when John was one-year-old; his mother subsequently married the Reverend Moses Fiske.
Quincy attended Harvard College
, graduating in 1708. He married Elizabeth Norton, daughter of the Reverend John Norton of Hingham
, on September 3, 1715. Although officially only achieving the rank of major
in the British army
, he was commonly referred to as "Colonel".
In 1717, he was elected to represent Braintree at the Massachusetts General Court
, was re-elected in 1719, and served in that capacity until 1740. From 1727 to 1740, he served as the Speaker of the House. In 1741, Quincy was voted out of office, but was returned there in 1744, where he served four additional years. He died on July 13, 1767 at the age of 77, only two days after the birth of his namesake.
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and member of the Quincy political family
Quincy political family
The Quincy family was a prominent political family in the United States during the mid-17th century through early 20th century and is connected to the Adams family through Abigail Adams....
. His granddaughter Abigail Adams
Abigail Adams
Abigail Adams was the wife of John Adams, who was the second President of the United States, and the mother of John Quincy Adams, the sixth...
named her son, John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams was the sixth President of the United States . He served as an American diplomat, Senator, and Congressional representative. He was a member of the Federalist, Democratic-Republican, National Republican, and later Anti-Masonic and Whig parties. Adams was the son of former...
, in his honor. The city of Quincy, Massachusetts
Quincy, Massachusetts
Quincy is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Its nicknames are "City of Presidents", "City of Legends", and "Birthplace of the American Dream". As a major part of Metropolitan Boston, Quincy is a member of Boston's Inner Core Committee for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council...
is named in his honor, as well.
Biography
John Quincy was born in Boston, Massachusetts to Daniel and Anna (née Shepard) Quincy. Shortly after his birth, the family moved to Braintree, MassachusettsBraintree, Massachusetts
The Town of Braintree is a suburban city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Although officially known as a town, Braintree adopted a municipal charter, effective 2008, with a mayor-council form of government and is considered a city under Massachusetts law. The population was 35,744...
and established a homestead at Mount Wollaston, or Merry Mount, in what is present-day Quincy
Quincy, Massachusetts
Quincy is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Its nicknames are "City of Presidents", "City of Legends", and "Birthplace of the American Dream". As a major part of Metropolitan Boston, Quincy is a member of Boston's Inner Core Committee for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council...
. Daniel died when John was one-year-old; his mother subsequently married the Reverend Moses Fiske.
Quincy attended Harvard College
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, graduating in 1708. He married Elizabeth Norton, daughter of the Reverend John Norton of Hingham
Hingham, Massachusetts
Hingham is a town in northern Plymouth County on the South Shore of the U.S. state of Massachusetts and suburb in Greater Boston. The United States Census Bureau 2008 estimated population was 22,561...
, on September 3, 1715. Although officially only achieving the rank of major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in the British army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, he was commonly referred to as "Colonel".
In 1717, he was elected to represent Braintree at the Massachusetts General Court
Massachusetts General Court
The Massachusetts General Court is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the Colonial Era, when this body also sat in judgment of judicial appeals cases...
, was re-elected in 1719, and served in that capacity until 1740. From 1727 to 1740, he served as the Speaker of the House. In 1741, Quincy was voted out of office, but was returned there in 1744, where he served four additional years. He died on July 13, 1767 at the age of 77, only two days after the birth of his namesake.
Further reading
- Wilson, Daniel Munro, and Charles Francis Adams. John Quincy, Master of Mount Wollaston. Boston: George H. Ellis Company, 1909.