Abigail Adams Smith

Abigail Adams Smith, also known by the nickname "Nabby," was born on July 14, 1765, in Braintree, Massachusetts. She was the daughter of Abigail Adams and John Adams, the latter being a founding father of the United States and the second President of the United States. She was the oldest confirmed biological child of President John Adams and was the first member of the First Family to be born while her father was in office.

Smith was named after her mother. During her early years, she developed close relationships with her family and was the sibling of John Quincy Adams, who would become the sixth President of the United States.

In her youth, Abigail Adams Smith met Royall Tyler and fell in love with him. Tyler referred to her as "Amelia," a name she used when corresponding with suitors. Her father believed she was too young to be involved in romantic pursuits, but eventually, he accepted her relationship with Tyler. At one point, they were engaged to marry. However, when John Adams was appointed as the U.S. minister to the Kingdom of Great Britain, he requested that his wife and daughter join him in London. The long-distance relationship with Tyler persisted for some time, but the engagement was ultimately broken off in favor of her marriage to Colonel William Stephens Smith.

William Stephens Smith was serving as John Adams's secretary in London and was ten years her senior. Smith and William Stephens Smith married on June 12, 1786, at the American minister's residence in London. Smith later documented her observations of European customs, prominent statesmen, and society, which were published.

The courtship of William Smith was considered by her parents to be rather short, and some historians have questioned the suitability of their marriage. William Smith was known for his kindness but lacked stability, often seeking better opportunities and engaging in real estate speculation, which frequently resulted in financial instability. Their residence was eventually located on a small farm along the Chenango River in central New York.

The couple had children, although specific names and numbers are not detailed in the provided information.

In 1810, Smith was diagnosed with breast cancer. On October 8, 1811, a mastectomy was performed in her home by Dr. John Warren and assistants, without the use of anesthesia. The procedure was conducted with rudimentary surgical instruments, which included a large fork, a wooden-handled razor, heated coals, and an iron spatula used for cauterization. Smith was restrained during the operation, which lasted approximately 25 minutes, with over an hour spent dressing the wounds. Her mother, husband, and daughter Caroline were present to assist. Contemporary accounts noted her remarkable endurance during the surgery.

After a period of relative recovery, Smith began experiencing worsening symptoms in 1813, including pain in her abdomen and spine, headaches, and the appearance of new tumors on her scar tissue and skin. Initially diagnosed with rheumatism by a local physician, her condition deteriorated with the appearance of additional tumors. She expressed a desire to die at her parents’ home and passed away on August 15, 1813, at age 48 in Quincy, Massachusetts. She was interred at Hancock Cemetery in Quincy.

Smith's life and death have been depicted in popular culture, notably in the 2008 miniseries "John Adams," where actress Sarah Polley portrayed her. The series depicted her cancer diagnosis as occurring in 1803, differing from the historical timeline.

Additional locations associated with her family include the Mount Vernon Hotel Museum in Manhattan, originally intended to be the Smith family estate but not completed before being sold. In the 20th century, it was designated as the Abigail Adams Smith Museum by the Colonial Dames of America.

References for further information include works by Paul Nagel, James Olson, and various historical biographies and essays focusing on Abigail Adams and her family.