Biography

According to Student Research Gold, Samuel Adams was “a born revolutionary, a puritan whose principles would not allow him to countenance injustice, or a master protagonist. He was called the Chief of Incendiary to enemies and the Father of the American Revolution to many others.” Samuel Adams lived a successful life and has helped our country maybe more than any other citizen has, which is why I think that he is the greatest American.
Samuel Adams was born on the 27th of September in 1722 and lived on Purchase Street in Bay Colony, Massachusetts (a Puritan colony). His birth parents were Samuel Adams Sr. and Mary (Fifield) Adams. Samuel Adams Sr. was a successful brewer and also a deacon at the Old South Church and the New South Church. His father was involved in politics and held the positions of Boston selectman and representative to the assembly. Samuel’s mother however, was quite different. Mary Adams was a stern, deeply religious woman who learned by the preaching’s of Jonathan Edwards. Mary and Samuel Adams Sr. had 12 children, including Samuel, but only 3 of the 12 children survived infancy. As a child, Samuel Adams and his other siblings were isolated from most of the other kids and instead were focused on their chores and familial responsibilities.
Samuel Adams soon began school and attended Boston Grammar School for 8 years. There, Samuel Adams studied Greek, Latin, math and grammar, and also found time to read classic books. After graduating from high school, he enrolled at Harvard University in 1736. At Harvard, Samuel Adams took many of the same classes as he did before college, but he also enrolled in additional classes such as logic, physics and philosophy. With hard work and motivating drive, he became the 5th ranked student in his class of 22.
After four long years of constant educational work, he graduated from Harvard. But he wasn’t done yet! Samuel Adams went back to earn his Master’s degree at Harvard. In 1743, he had earned his Master’s degree and was beginning to plan his career choice. The first things that Samuel Adams had ruled out were brewery and church work, even though they had been the career paths his parents had chosen. After lots of thinking and trying to figure out what to be, he decided to try a financial career. Luckily, this path would not stick, for if it had, we might still be controlled by the British Parliament. As it turned out, Samuel Adams was a terrible businessman and he soon went bankrupt. His wealthy father paid of his debts and then set him on a different line of business - brewery.
Once in the brewery business, Samuel Adams’ career began to take off. His father taught him all that he knew about brewery and made his son the new manager of his company. Luckily, the brewery was going so well that it needed very little management leaving Adams time for his real obsession, politics. So in 1748 Samuel Adams published a newspaper called the Independence Advertiser. This newspaper consisted of politics and nothing else. Soon after Samuel Adams started this newspaper, his father suddenly passed away leaving Samuel Adams and his brothers in charge of the brewery.
In 1749, Samuel Adams married his first wife Elizabeth Checkley. He and his wife Elizabeth would go on to have five kids, with only two surviving infancy. Sadly, Elizabeth passed away in 1757 due to a severe fever. Soon after, Samuel Adams decided that he want to do more with politics so he joined the Caucus Club. This Club was able to run all of the town meetings without any approval. By 1758 Samuel Adams became so indebted that a sheriff gave him a warning. The sheriff then threatened to auction off his property if he didn’t pay his taxes. The Biography Resource Center says that “Adams threatened to sue anyone who tried to take his property.” This comment led to arguments between the sheriff and Samuel Adams, which led to him being removed from his job.
In 1764 Samuel Adams remarried. His new wife was named Elizabeth Wells. In 1765 Samuel Adams was elected to fill an empty seat in colonial legislation. For the next nine years, he became a leading figure in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He made many contributions such as opposing the Townshend Acts, which ultimately made him famous. Samuel Adams also came up with many ideas that helped the colonies stick together, like the Continental Congress.
After many conflicts between the Americans and the British, the colonists became fed up, and the assembly of the First and Second Continental congresses was formed. Samuel Adams was lucky enough to be elected to the Congress and spent many years in Philadelphia (were the meetings were held) making large contributions. Samuel Adams did a great job representing the colony of Massachusetts. “Adams signed the Declaration of independence, espousing immediate political separation from Britain, and recommending the formation of state governments.”
In 1781 Samuel Adams returned to Massachusetts and became the lieutenant governor from 1789 to 1793. On October 2, 1803 Samuel Adams passed away. He was given a state funeral, where members of the Massachusetts legislature came to grieve over his death. U.S. House of Representatives and even the Senate wore mourning bands in his memory for the rest of the year.
So, was Samuel Adams really “the father of the American Revolution”? I personally think that he was. Samuel Adams has made more contributions to this country than you could ever imagine. That’s why I think that Samuel Adams is the greatest American.

<"Samuel Adams." Biography Resource Center. Gale, 2010. Web. 28 Feb. 2010.>

First Influence

“Adams probably did more than any other person to incite a break between Britain and the 13 colonies.” This statement by Student Research Gold is just one fact that supports my first influence which is “Samuel Adams worked hard to gain independence for the colonies”. After Adams Brewery business failed, he had already stated making numerous contributions for America. In January 1748, Adams published a newspaper called Independence Advertiser, which he created mainly to talk about politics. In the same year his political career began, Adams became James Otis’ partner and they worked together continuously for many years. But, even after many difficult years of devoting his life to politics, Adams’ career hadn’t really gone anywhere. Luckily for Adams, the Sugar and Stamp Acts were put in to effect by the British Parliament and he saw this as an opportunity to turn his career around.
In 1765, Adams was elected to fill the vacant seat in the colonial legislature. “For the next nine years, Adams became the leading figure in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, while he perfected a political machine.” Adams became very successful by opposing the Townshend Acts, and publishing messages that he called “Circular Letters,” which were letters arguing about how parliament did not have unlimited power. In December 1770, Adams used the incident were the redcoats in Boston begun shooting a mob of people, killing several of them, as a form of propaganda to enforce a split with Britain. Adams then called a town meeting where he demanded that the British troops in the city streets be removed from their post. He then led the group of delegates to the town council to complain about the dangers that a standing army can bring to a peaceful city.
Due to the hard work of Adams and the delegation, the British Parliament took away the Townshend Acts, and the arguments began to simmer down. But that wouldn’t stop a true Patriot like Adams. He wouldn’t be satisfied until his country had reached their goal of freedom. “Adams decided to keep matters at a full boil.” By 1772 things began heating up again, but this time Adams had a plan. He came up with the idea of all the states staying in contact with each other by committees of correspondence. Soon enough, committees began springing up all over the place including Massachusetts and South Carolina. The Tea Act soon came into effect, which led to the famous Boston Tea party. This was largely due to the contributions that Adams and his Sons of Liberty. When Parliament heard about what had happened, they issued the Intolerable Acts in 1774.
After these acts came into effect, the Americans became tired of the British Parliament controlling their country and formed the First Continental Congress. Adams was elected into the congress and was on his way to Philadelphia were the meetings were being held. “At the First and Second Continental Congresses Adams represented the state of Massachusetts by signing the Declaration of Independence, espousing immediate political separation from Britain, recommending the formation of state governments and a confederation among the new states.” After several years of hard work, Adams returned back to Massachusetts. Adams worked hard all his life, which is why he was so successful. We can all honestly say that without the contributions of Samuel Adams, America would have never been the same. From this information, you should be able to agree with my Influence on why this man was the greatest American.

<"Adams, Samuel." Student Resource Center-Gold. Gale, 2010. Web. 24 Feb. 2010.>

Second Influence

The second influence is that Samuel Adams inspired others. Adams was a person who didn’t give up easily. For example, he tried three different careers until he finally hit the jackpot with politics. Another example of this is that he kept persevering and believing that America was going to be a free country one day. Adams never gave up and he and the citizens reached their goals.
Adams was also a leader. He could take control of something “and fire any heart with a desire to become a patriot,” which is exactly what he had done during the town meeting after the killing of several men during the Boston Massacre. Adams was not only a leader; he was a devoted person as well. Samuel Adams spent most of his entire life learning, studying, and reading and writing about politics. He just couldn’t stop. It was his true passion and what he craved. Even though his political career didn’t start off the way he would had hoped, Adams never gave up; he just worked harder. Another trait that may inspire others is his aggressive tactics. Adams always played things a little risky. For example instead of describing the “Boston Massacre” how it most likely happened, he over exaggerated it by using propaganda. Adams has inspired many people with his many traits. These traits help Americans really realize what a true Patriot he was.

Fun Facts

• Adams ancestors were from England. The first Adams to settle in the colonies was Henry Adams.
  


• There is a beer named after Samuel Adams.
  


• Adams Developed a Chronic Nervous condition after failure at the brewery business that started with shaking of the hands.
  


• Adams was selected to write Boston’s instructions to its colonial representatives.
  


• Samuel Adams, James Otis and John Hancock, were all apart of a group that opposed Thomas Hutchinson.
  


• Adams entered Harvard at a very young age
  


• Was provided a horse with a carriage, money, and clothes when Adams got elected into the Continental Congress.


• Signed the Declaration of Independence

<"Samuel Adams." Biography Resource Center. Gale, 2010. Web. 28 Feb. 2010.> <"Adams, Samuel." Student Resource Center-Gold. Gale, 2010. Web. 24 Feb. 2010>

Visitor Response Question 1- Do you think that Adams should be viewed as an American hero? Why or Why not?

Visitor Response Question 2- Does the nickname given to Samuel Adams, "The father of American revolution" suit him? Why or Why not?

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