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Some people seem destined to lead. Take John Quincy Adams, for example.
Born in Braintree, Massachusetts, in 1767, he grew up watching the United
States fight for and achieve its independence from Britain, thereby becoming
a nation. And speaking of watching, he literally saw history unfold before
him when he climbed Penn's Hill above his family's farm to watch the
Battle of Bunker Hill—one of the early military confrontations
between British troops and colonial volunteers who had organized themselves
into an army.
His parents, John and Abigail Adams, took their responsibility of helping shape the fledgling United States of America seriously. John Quincy was given an above-average education for his time. There were few public schools, so he was primarily homeschooled.
His father, serving his country in the Continental Congress and as an overseas diplomat during the Revolutionary War, was often away from the family farm during John Quincy's formative years. His mother was therefore primarily responsible for his education. But his father did closely monitor John Quincy's progress and personally tutored him when he was at home.
Under his parents' guidance, John Quincy studied hard and assimilated knowledge at an astounding rate. At age 11 he joined his father in Europe and continued his studies under his tutelage. He was so skilled and mature for his age that he was appointed by Congress as a diplomatic secretary at the age of 14. He was well on his way to a life of public service that eventually included being elected president of the United States, just as his father had been. (John was the second president; John Quincy, the sixth.)
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