From: Dictionary of American Fighting Ships

John Adams, born in Braintree, Mass., 19 October 1735, graduated from Harvard in 1755. He studied law while teaching school for the net 3 years and was admitted to the bar in 1758. His opposition to the Stamp Act in 1765 established Adams as a political leader. After moving to Boston he served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and later in the Provincial Congress.

In 1774 Adams was selected as one of the delegates from Massachusetts to the first Continental Congress where he became a champion of American rights and liberties and later a leader in the independence movement. He seconded Richard Henry Lee's motion for a resolution of independence 7 June 1776, and he served on the committee which drafted the Declaration of Independence which was adopted 4 July.

On 5 October 1775, Congress created the first of a series of committees to study naval matters. From that time onward throughout his career Adams championed the establishment and strengthening of an American Navy. He was so active and effective in forwarding the nation's naval interests that he is often called the father of the Navy.

Adams succeeded Silas Deane as commissioner to France in 1777 to begin a decade of diplomatic service in Europe only briefly interrupted in 1779 when he returned to Massachusetts to play a leading role in the state constitutional convention.

John Adams was the first Vice President of the United Stated serving under Washington from 1789 to 1797 when he became the second President. Difficulties with France during his administration prompted him to push vigorously for construction of the Navy which had been neglected after the treaty of Paris.

Defeated for reelection in 1800, John Adams retired from public life to Quincy, Mass., where he died 4 July 1826, coincidentally both the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and the day of Thomas Jefferson's death.

John Quincy Adams, the eldest son of President John Adams, was born 1 July 1767 at Quincy, Mass. His travel in Europe accompanying his father on diplomatic missions gave him a broad knowledge of diplomacy. Washington appointed him Minister to the Netherlands in 1794, and his father sent him to Prussia, where he represented the United States from 1797 to 1801. He served in the U.S. Senate from 1803 to 1808, and the following year he became Minister to Russia. In 1814 he was one of the American diplomats whose negotiations with the English led to the Treaty of Ghent, which settled the War of 1812. Service after the war as Minister to England rounded out his diplomatic training.

James Monroe appointed him Secretary of State, and he won enduring fame in the post. The Monroe Doctrine was the crowning achievement of the 8 years of skillful service in the office establishing the position of the United States as a power capable of dealing with other nations as equals.

In 1824, after an inconclusive general election, the House of Representatives elected him sixth President of the United States. After serving one term, his try for reelection was defeated by Andrew Jackson. Two years after his return to Quincy, he was elected to Congress, where he enjoyed widespread respect for his great knowledge and his high-minded opposition to any extension of slavery. While on the floor of the House, he was seized by a stroke 21 February 1848 and died shortly afterwards.

The first John Adams was named for the second President of the United States while the second John Adams (SSB(N)-625) [Vol. IV errata: (SSB(N)-620)] was named for both him and his son, John Quincy Adams.

(SSB(N) - 625 [Vol. IV errata: SSB(N)-620]: dp. 7,250; l. 425'; b. 33'; dr. 31'5"; s. over 20 k.; cpl. 136; a. 16 Pol. mis.; cl. Lafayette)

The second John Adams (SSB(N)-625) [Vol. IV errata: (SSB(N)-620)] was laid down by the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, N.H., 19 May 1961; launched 12 January 1963; sponsored by Mrs. Abigail Adams Manny, great, great, great granddaughter of John Quincy Adams, and commissioned 12 May 1964, Comdr. Paul Lando W. Zech, Jr., (blue crew) and Comdr. Paul J. Early (gold crew) in command.

After shakedown and training on the Atlantic Missile Range, John Adams departed Charleston, S.C., 3 November 1964 for duty with Submarine Squadron 14. Based at Holy Loch, Scotland, she began Polaris missile patrols. At present she continues classified patrols and serves as a unit of the mighty undersea deterrent force. Capable of unleashing a lethal attack against any potential enemy, she also serves the continuing task of "keeping the peace."

[Transcriber's note: John Adams was built with the Polaris A2 missile. She received the 2500-mile range Polaris A3 in 1968-70 and was refitted with the Poseidon missile between 1969-78. She was stricken from the Navy Register on 24 March 1989.

K. Jack Bauer and Stephen S. Roberts, "Register of Ships of the U. S. Navy, 1775-1990," p.293.]

Transcribed by Yves HUBERT (hubertypc@aol.com)