Among the powerful figures of the world who visited Silesian soil were Frederick II the Great, King of Prussia; Napoleon Bonaparte; Tsar Alexander I; Emperor Wilhelm II, who came here quite often; and Frederick Chopin. I have not mentioned many other individuals, but one particular person deserves special attention. He was a guest from the United States—not just anyone, but the president himself.
When we think of a visit by an American head of state, the names Obama, Bush or Clinton immediately come to mind. But do we know John Quincy Adams? Probably not. He was an outstanding American politician and later the sixth president of the United States, although his likeness does not appear on any American banknote. This man visited Lower Silesia and, in letters he wrote to his brother, expressed his admiration for this magnificent land.
John Quincy Adams
President Adams, born in Massachusetts in 1767, began his political career as a talented and effective diplomat. In 1797, he arrived in Berlin as the American ambassador to Prussia. Soon afterward, he set out for Lower Silesia. The first destination of his journey was Jelenia Góra. The travelers departed from Bolesławiec, and in his letters the ambassador wrote:
Six German miles from Bolesławiec transported us into another world [...]. Roads as good as those in England; the interweaving of hills and valleys revealed an endless variety of views1.
Adams noted that the region was wealthy and that the people living there led prosperous, peaceful lives. This can be inferred from another passage in the letter:
[…] fields covered with rich crops2.
The next town he visited was Lwówek Śląski (Löwenberg). The guests spent only two hours in the town. They changed horses, ate and rested. John Q. Adams engaged in a pleasant conversation with a soldier who had fought in the American War of Independence. At that time, the soldier had been taken prisoner near Saratoga—like many Prussian soldiers of the period, he had fought in British units.
In Wleń (Lähn), meanwhile, the future president became interested in the figure of Saint Hedwig of Silesia while visiting a tiny church. She made a strong impression on him.
One of the last towns visited by the ambassador was Gryfów Śląski (Greiffenberg). He stayed longer in Gryfów. He spent several hours there in September 1800. In this small town, his attention was drawn to the linen produced there, which he considered the finest made in the mountains.
Adams also visited the Sudetes. The Table Mountains (in 1800) and Szczeliniec Wielki made a particularly strong impression on him. To this day, a stone plaque commemorating this remarkable visit stands on Szczeliniec.
Lower Silesia made a tremendous impression on Adams. He noticed that it was a wealthy region, with beautiful landscapes and magnificent palaces. After traveling through the region, he went from Gryfów with his companions to Saxony, and from there to Berlin. This journey remained in his memory forever.
When he was recalled from the Berlin post, Russia became his new home, where he later served on a diplomatic mission. After completing it, he was ambassador to Great Britain, and from there he returned to America in 1817. In his country, he became seriously involved in politics.
His election to the presidency was quite unusual. The Federalist Party did not nominate a candidate, while the Democratic-Republican Party nominated four, including him. The popular and electoral votes did not decide the election. The decisive vote took place in the House of Representatives, though not immediately. John Q. Adams became president thanks to his rival. Henry Clay withdrew his candidacy and, in return, received the position of secretary of state from President Adams.
John Q. Adams held office from 1825 for four years. He died on February 23, 1848. During a session of the House of Representatives, of which he was an active member, he became unwell and fainted. Two years earlier, he had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage, but recovered and continued his work.
He was buried in Quincy, Massachusetts. He was a staunch opponent of slavery.
Paweł Skiersinis
The author is a blogger and history enthusiast, particularly passionate about the history of Lower Silesia and Poland. Why Lower Silesia? As he says: “Why not? The most fascinating history is the history around us, concerning us and our ancestors.”
He adds: “I try to present history from a different perspective, in an interesting way—not in the typical textbook style, full of dry dates and facts. My articles deal with facts that cannot be found in textbooks and well-known publications. The history of Lower Silesia is undoubtedly interesting and fascinating, so it is worth devoting at least a brief moment to it from time to time.”
¹ R. Primke, M. Szczerepa, Among the Treasures and Mysteries of Lower Silesia, Warsaw 2005, p. 96.
² Ibidem.