Francis Dana was uncertain about the prospects for his Russia posting. Unfortunately, Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia, refused to acknowledge him, because she did not want to upset the British, who were still angry for having lost the American Revolution.

Eventually young Adams made the return journey to Paris alone, taking several months and traveling through a number of European countries. Following the failure of the Dana mission, the United States had no diplomatic representation in Russia until President James Madison appointed John Quincy Adams as the first recognized U.S. ambassador to Russia in 1809.

Although Adams's first Russian experience at such a young age was an impressive start to his foreign-service career, what is considered his most memorable diplomatic service?