John Adams, the first vice president of the United States, an American founding father and a well-educated Republican, is best known for being the second president of the United States. As a lifelong opponent of slavery, Adams never purchased a slave in his life. He helped Thomas Jefferson write the Declaration of Independence and helped negotiate the peace treaty with Great Britain. Adams won the 1796 presidential election by only three more votes than Thomas Jefferson. However, there was more to John Adams' life than just the presidency. His childhood was as normal as anyone else's. John Adams was born October 30, 1735 in Quincy, Massachusetts, to John Adams Sr. and Susanna Boylston. Adams' birthplace is now part of Adams National Historical Park. He was born in a normal but not rich farming family. His father made his living as a farmer and shoemaker about fifteen miles from Boston. Adams loved the outdoors and always skipped school to go hunting and fishing. He would have preferred a life as a farmer, but later his father insisted that he receive a formal education. Adams attended a local school designed to teach reading and writing, as well as a Latin school for those planning to go to college. Adams generally praised his father and indicated that he and his father were very close when he was a child. Young Adams went to Harvard College at the age of sixteen in 1751. His father expected him to become a minister, but Adams had his doubts. After graduating in 1755, he taught for a few years in Worcester, giving himself time to consider his career choice. He later decided to become a lawyer and studied law in the office of John P.[citation needed] Overall, John Adams is one of my favorite presidents mainly because of what he did and what he believed in..