John Adams (1735-1826) was America's first Vice President and its second Chief Executive. The Harvard-educated lawyer was a leader in the movement for independence, playing an active role in the Continental Congress and serving in Europe as a diplomat. His single-term administration was marked by turbulence in both foreign and domestic affairs. He became a prolific writer upon his retirement from public office, conducting a voluminous correspondence with his friend and rival Thomas Jefferson. Abigail Smith Adams (1744-1818) was an early advocate for women's rights, taking particular interest in access to formal education. The mother of six, including President John Quincy Adams, she ran the family farm during her husband's long absences and served as First Lady.