Abigail Adams (1744–1818) was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts, the daughter of a minister. At the age of twenty, she married John Adams, a Boston lawyer who played important roles in the founding and governing of the United States. An ardent supporter of the American Revolution, Adams began a remarkable correspondence with her husband when, in 1774, he became a delegate to the First Continental Congress, a federal parliamentary body established by the British colonies in America.

From 1774 to 1783 (the year in which a peace treaty was signed with England), John Adams was often away from home, involved in work that included the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, the conduct of the American Revolution, and the formation of the new nation. During this time, Adams kept up a lively, fascinating correspondence with him. This correspondence offers many insights into the revolution and into daily life during the period. In her letters, Adams proved to be one of the first American champions of women's rights. She was particularly interested in expanding educational opportunities for women, which at that time were few. Adams was also an ardent opponent of slavery.

After the American Revolution, John Adams served as a diplomat in Europe, and Abigail traveled with him, living at various times in Paris, The Hague, and London. John Adams served as the first vice president of the new nation and then as its second president. During this period, Adams divided her time between the family residence in Massachusetts and the temporary capitol in Philadelphia. Her son John Quincy Adams became the sixth president of the United States.