Since our school days, we’ve grown accustomed to encountering awe-inspiring portraits of iconic historical figures such as George Washington, Helen Keller, and Isambard Kingdom Brunel, to name a few. It’s pretty mind-boggling to consider that the birth of photography in the late 1820s opened up a whole new realm of human history. We’re here today to delve into a selection of historic photographs showing the familiar faces of some of history’s most iconic personalities.
#1: John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams, born on July 11, 1767, to John and Abigail Adams, served as the sixth President of the United States from 1825 to 1829. He was not just a president but a versatile American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, and diarist. Before his presidency, Adams was the eighth United States Secretary of State from 1817 to 1825.
He followed in the footsteps of his father, John Adams, who was the second U.S. President from 1797 to 1801. Born in Braintree, Massachusetts, Adams spent much of his early life in Europe, where his father served as a diplomat. Tragically, in 1848, he succumbed to a stroke and passed away after collapsing on the floor of the House.