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Painting of a Dutch girl holding flowers

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Young John Quincy Adams Abroad
Though John Quincy Adams was not very popular during his presidency, he developed an excellent reputation as a diplomat before it. He won President George Washington's admiration with his writings in support of the president's foreign policy. He was also able to speak Dutch and got himself appointed ambassador to the Netherlands in 1794, the year he turned 27.
But Adams actually began his diplomatic career at age 13, when he was asked to serve as personal secretary to Francis Dana, the U.S. ambassador to Russia (a post that Adams himself would later fill). How do you think this opportunity arose for Adams?
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