John Adams, the first vice president of the United States, an American Founding Father, and an educated Republican, is most commonly known for being the second president of the United States. Being a lifelong opponent of slavery, Adams never bought a slave in his life. He assisted Thomas Jefferson in drafting the Declaration of Independence and helped negotiate the peace treaty with Great Britain. Adams won the presidential election in 1796 with only three more votes than Thomas Jefferson. However, John Adams' life wasn't just about the presidency. His early life was as normal as anyone else's. John Adams was born on 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 into a normal but not wealthy peasant 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 his father later insisted that he receive a formal education. Adams attended a local school designed to teach reading and writing skills, and also attended a Latin school for those planning to go to college. Adams commonly 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 doubts. After graduating in 1755, he taught for a few years in Worcester, giving himself time to think about his career choice. Later, he 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 mostly because of what he did and what he believed in.