Louisa Adams - Early Life

Early Life

Born in London, she was the only First Lady born outside of the United States. She was the daughter of Joshua Johnson, an American merchant, and Catherine Nuth-Johnson, an Englishwoman. Her father was originally from Maryland and served as United States consul general in London after 1790. She had six sisters: Ann, Caroline, Harriet, Catherine, Elizabeth, and Adelaide, and a brother, Thomas. Louisa grew up in London and Nantes, France, where the family took refuge during the American Revolution. It was in Nantes that four-year-old Louisa first met her future husband, who at 12 was traveling through France with his father.

Read more about this topic:  Louisa Adams

Famous quotes containing the words early and/or life:

    The setting sun is reflected from the windows of the alms-house as brightly as from the rich man’s abode; the snow melts before its door as early in the spring. I do not see but a quiet mind may live as contentedly there, and have as cheering thoughts, as in a palace.
    Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)

    Your faith an’ trouth yese never get
    Nor our trew Love shall never twain
    Till ye come within my bower
    And kiss me both cheek and chin.

    My mouth it is full cold, Margret,
    It has the smell now of the ground;
    An’ if I kiss thy com’ly mouth
    Thy life days will not be long.
    Unknown. Clerk Saunders (l. 109–116)