Autographs
1816 Original US Passport Signed by John Quincy Adams
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS (1767-1848). Sixth President of the United States (1825-1829); Negotiated with the United Kingdom over America's northern border with Canada; with Spain the annexation of Florida; authored the “Monroe Doctrine,” thus one of the greatest Diplomats and Secretaries of State in American history.
March 12, 1816-Dated Document Signed by John Quincy Adams as United States Minister to Great Britain. This Passport, issued to William Wood by "legation des Etas Unis d'Amerique en Angleterrre," is 4 pages and measures approximately 15.5” x 10”. With a terrific engraving of the American Federal Eagle at top, the document describes Wood's physical characteristics and is endorsed with visas numerous times on the two reverse pages. Dark uneven toning, marginal chips, creases and folds, and normal age toning. Comes with a small engraved print of Adams.
John Quincy Adams served as the sixth President of the United States from March 4, 1825, to March 4, 1829. He took the oath of office on a book of laws, instead of the more traditional Bible, to preserve the separation of church and state. The Adams administration's record was thin; he made many proposals to Congress but it passed few of them; there were some minor foreign policy achievements. Adams proposed an elaborate program of internal improvements (roads, ports and canals), a national university, and federal support for the arts and sciences.

He favored a high tariff to encourage the building of factories, and restricted land sales to slow the movement west. Opposition from the states' rights faction of a hostile congress killed many of his proposals. He also reduced the national debt from $16 million to $5 million, the remainder of which was paid off by his successor.