| Charles Francis Adams II | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 27, 1835 |
| Died | May 20, 1915 (aged 79) |
| Place of burial | Mount Wollaston Cemetery, Quincy, Massachusetts |
| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Service/branch | Union Army |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
| Awards | Brevet Brigadier General |
Charles Francis Adams II (May 27, 1835 – May 20, 1915) was a member of the prominent Adams family, and son of Charles Francis Adams, Sr. He served as a colonel in the Union Army during the American Civil War. After the war, he was a railroad regulator and executive, an author of historical works, and a member of the Massachusetts Park Commission.
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Adams was born into a family with a long legacy in American public life. He was the great-grandson of United States President John Adams, and the grandson of president John Quincy Adams. His father Charles Francis Adams, Sr.[1] was a lawyer, politician, diplomat, and writer.
After graduating from Harvard University in 1856, Adams served on the Union side in the American Civil War, serving initially as a captain in a Massachusetts cavalry regiment. He fought with distinction during the Gettysburg Campaign, where his company was heavily engaged at the Battle of Aldie. On July 9, 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated Colonel Adams for the award of the grade of brevet brigadier general, United States Volunteers, to rank from March 13, 1865 and the U. S. Senate confirmed the award on July 23, 1866.[2][3] Colonel Adams was awarded the grade of brevet brigadier general for distinguished gallantry and efficiency at the battles of Secessionville, South Carolina and South Mountain and Antietam, Maryland and for meritorious services during the war.[4] At the close of the war, he was in command of a regiment of colored cavalry.[5]
On 8 May 1865, he married Mary Elizabeth [Ogden]; daughter of Abram Ogden of New York City, NY. The couple had three daughters and two twin sons: Mary Ogden ("Molly") Adams, Louisa Catherine Adams, Elizabeth Ogden ("Elise") Adams, John Adams (b. 1875 - 1964), and Henry Adams (b. 1875 - 1951), both of whom graduated Harvard in 1898.[6][7][8]
Following the Civil War, he was appointed to the Massachusetts Railroad Commission. There he attempted to persuade (rather than coerce) railroads into compliance with accepted business norms. Thomas McCraw called Adams's approach to regulation "the Sunshine Commission" since the purpose of the commission was to expose the corrupt business practices in hopes that, once out in the open, the businessmen would be shamed into mending their ways. It was in this vein that he wrote Chapters of Erie. However, true to his regulatory philosophy, he favored the protection of businessmen over that of the consumers. He saw regulation as necessary to protect investors and other businessmen from the capriciousness of a hostile public or the machinations of other unscruplous stock jobbers.[9] He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1871.[10]
Adams was president of the Union Pacific Railroad from 1884 to 1890, having previously become widely known as an authority on the management of railways. However, he left his office due to financial problems. [11] Among his writings are Railroads, Their Origin and Problems (1878).
From 1893 to 1895 he was chairman of the Massachusetts Park Commission, and as such took a prominent part in planning the present park system of the state.[5]
After 1874, he devoted much of his time to the study of American history, and in recognition of his work in this field was chosen president of the Massachusetts Historical Society in 1895, and of the American Historical Association in 1901. His writings and addresses both on problems of railway management and on historical subjects frequently gave rise to widespread controversy.[5]
His siblings include: older sister Louisa Catherine [Adams], wife of Charles Kuhn, of Philadelphia, older brother [Hon.] John Quincy Adams II; the uncle of Charles Adams, III, the brother of the historian Henry Brooks Adams,[6] Arthur Adams, who died young during their childhood, Mary Adams, who married Henry Parker Quincy, of Dedham, MA, and historian Peter Chardon Brooks Adams, of Beverly Farms, MA. who married Evelyn [Davis].
Charles F. Adams, Jr. died May 20, 1915, a week shy of his 80th birthday. He is buried in Mount Wollaston Cemetery in Quincy, Massachusetts. His grave can be found in the Old Section, Lot 337.[12]
The following is a selective family tree of notable members of the Adams family relative to Charles Francis Adams, Jr.:
President John Quincy Adams Louisa Catherine Johnson Peter Chardon Brooks Abigail [Brown] Charles Francis Adams, Sr. Abigail Brown [Brooks] George Caspar Crowninshield Harriet [Sears] Charles Francis Adams, Jr. John Quincy Adams II Frances Cadwalader [Crowninshield] John Quincy Adams III George Caspar Adams Charles Francis Adams III Frances [Lovering] Frances C. Adams Arthur Adams Margery Lee [Sargeant] Abigail ("Hitty") Adams Robert Homans Catherine Lovering Adams Henry Sturgis Morgan Charles Francis Adams IV Margaret [Stockton] Children 3 Sons; 1 Daughter Five Sons Abigail Adams James C.Manny Allison Adams Paul G. Hagan {{{ CFA }}} Timothy Adams
| Preceded by Sidney Dillon |
President of Union Pacific Railroad 1884 – 1890 |
Succeeded by Sidney Dillon |