Charles Francis Adams IV

Charles Francis Adams IV was born on May 2, 1910, in Boston, Massachusetts. He was the son of Charles Francis Adams III, who served as United States Secretary of the Navy. Adams was a member of the Adams family, being a great-great-grandson of President John Quincy Adams and a great-great-great-grandson of President John Adams.

He attended St. Mark's School and graduated from Harvard College in 1932. He also attended Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration. As a sixth-generation Harvard alumnus, he followed a family tradition that began with John Adams, who graduated from Harvard in 1755.

Adams was commissioned as an ensign in the United States Naval Reserve on June 23, 1932. He was promoted to lieutenant (junior grade) on June 23, 1937. During World War II, he served on active duty, receiving promotions to lieutenant commander on May 1, 1943, and to commander on March 1, 1944. He commanded the destroyer escort USS William Seiverling, which was commissioned on June 1, 1944. The USS William Seiverling participated in anti-submarine operations in the Pacific Theater, supported the liberation of the Philippines, and was involved in air attacks off Okinawa. Adams left active service in 1946.

Following his military service, Adams became involved in the electronics industry. He served as the first president of Raytheon Company from 1948 to 1960 and again from 1962 to 1964. He also served as Raytheon's chairman from 1960 to 1962 and from 1964 to 1975. Under his leadership, Raytheon transitioned from manufacturing transistors and vacuum tubes to producing missile systems, military radar, and communications systems.

In his personal life, Adams was married twice. His first marriage was to Margaret Stockton, with whom he had four children: Abigail, Alison, Charles V, and Timothy. His second marriage was to Beatrice D. Penati, with whom he had a stepson named Giannotto Penati. He had nine grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren at the time of his death.

Adams died on January 5, 1999, in Dover, Massachusetts, at the age of 88. He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1959. He received honorary degrees from Suffolk University, Northeastern University, Bates College, and Tufts University.

He was also related to Constance Crowninshield Coolidge, being her first cousin.