John Quincy Adams visited Dover New Hampshire at age 66 between September 5th and 6th, 1833. Born on July 11th, 1767, Adams was a diplomat and politician who served as the sixth President of the United States between March 4th, 1825 and March 4th, 1829. He was a Federalist, Democratic-Republican, and a Whig who opposed free masonry. He was the son of John Adams, the second President of the United States. He was famous for formulating the Monroe Doctrine. He was also against Slave Power, and argued that in the event of a civil war the president could abolish slavery by using war powers. This policy was adopted by Abraham Lincoln in the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863.

He is the only president to serve in Congress post-presidency. He lost his second term to Andrew Jackson, and served Congress from 1831 until he died in 1848. After spending two weeks touring the White Mountains, he departed Conway by stage coach on September 4th, 1833 and stayed in Somersworth. The next morning, he came to Dover on tour and stayed the night at the Wyatt’s Inn.

Below is the transcript of the visit:

President Adams – “Mrs. Wyatt, I want to thank you for the fine hospitality you’ve shown me here in Dover. The accommodations at your hostelry and the meals here have been most excellent.”

Mrs. Wyatt – “Why President Adams, I should be thanking you choosing Wyatt’s Inn for your comforts. I most certainly appreciate your comments, and I insist you have more pie!”

President Adams Laughs.

President Adams – “Mrs. Wyatt, if I continue to eat I will not be able to fit into my carriage for the ride to Portsmouth. I am quite full now. Thank you.”

Mrs. Wyatt removes the President’s plate, laughing.

Mrs. Wyatt – “Well, Mr. President, perhaps we don’t want you to leave after all. I remember your parting address to General Lafayette when he left his tour in 1825. I greatly admired the sentiments you expressed. Did you know that the General visited this Inn when he stopped in our fair town that year?”

President Adams – “Hmmmm, I was aware that Lafayette came to New Hampshire but I did not know that he had visited the prosperous town of Dover. The General was a great friend to our country and no words can thank him enough for what he did to help our great nation.”

Mrs. Wyatt points to a painting of John Adams on the wall.

Mrs. Wyatt – “I also wanted to show you this. It’s a portrait of your father that I have had for several years. He too has a special place in our home.”

President Adams – “Oh Mrs. Wyatt, you are too kind. I am indeed familiar with that portrait. It is an engraving made from a painting by Mr. Stuart. It is a fine likeness. And speaking of portraits, Widow Atkinson showed me a wonderful painting yesterday that I much admired. It is of the wife of John Wentworth, painted in 1765 by John Singleton Copley. Just exquisite! I also especially enjoyed the tour of your cotton printing factory. I saw several spectacular new inventions; most remarkable was the Brewster jenny with its horizontal spindles and perpendicular threads. You have extraordinary coloring and bleaching processes and I watched your operatives roll the cloth over red-hot steel and copper cylinders, pressing 100 tons a square inch! And the designs drawn by your English engravers are the loveliest patterns for muslin and calico that I’ve ever seen! The views from the top of the factory and atop Garrison Hill were also vast and beautiful. You have a fine town here, but I must now prepare to journey to Portsmouth. I wish you all the best in industry and health. Thank you all and good day!”