Eminent Americans : comprising brief biographies of leading statesmen, patriots, orators and others, men and women who have made American history . married in 1766, and soon afterward made Boston his place ofresidence. There he took front rank with the political agitators, and was oneof the most prudent, yet decided of the popular leaders. In 1770, he was electedto a seat in the Massachusetts Assembly; and in 1774, he was chosen one offive to represent that province in the First Continental Congress. He was againelected to the same office in 1775, and nominated George Washington for theimporta

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Eminent Americans : comprising brief biographies of leading statesmen, patriots, orators and others, men and women who have made American history . married in 1766, and soon afterward made Boston his place ofresidence. There he took front rank with the political agitators, and was oneof the most prudent, yet decided of the popular leaders. In 1770, he was electedto a seat in the Massachusetts Assembly; and in 1774, he was chosen one offive to represent that province in the First Continental Congress. He was againelected to the same office in 1775, and nominated George Washington for theimportant station of commander-in-chief of the armies of the United States. On 1. Tlis popnlavi^y was put to the S3verest t3st in 1770, when Captain Preston, and some of his soldierswho hui fire^lnpon a mob and killed ihree people [see roteon pafre£9], were tiicd fnriniiulcr. Adams, in the face of gieatly-exciied public opinion, consented, as a lawyer, to defen<l Preston, and he wasacquitted. The faith of the people, in Adams, was so unwavering, that this seeming treason to theircause did not lesson his character iu their esteem. 88 JOHN ADAMS.. the Gth of May, IITG, he offered a resolution, in Congress, equivalent to a declaration of independence, and when that subject assumed a more definite form, soon afterward, he was one of the ablest advocates of the measure. His signa-ture was affixed to the great instrument which declared the colonies free andindependent States. Mr. Adams labored on assiduously in Congress, untilappointed, by that body, to fill the place of Silas Deane at the French court.Franklin had done all the necessary diplomatic work, and Mr. Adams returnedin 177J. He then assisted in framing a state constitution for Massachusetts, andwhile thus employed, was appointed a minister plenipotentiary to negotiate apeace, and form a commercial treaty, with Great Britain. He was very activewhile abroad, and at one time was intrusted with no less than six missions.^In 1781, he