'Charles Francis Adams, Sr.'

'Charles Francis Adams, Sr.'

An 1861 photographic print of Charles Francis Adams, Sr., the United State's minister to Great Britain

The son of President John Quincy Adams, Charles Francis Adams served as the primary Union diplomat in its interactions with Great Britain throughout the Civil War. A prominent statesman prior to the outbreak of war, Adams worked tirelessly to preserve relations with his British counterparts, detailed throughout his letters and notes. His presence across the Atlantic was instrumental in Union efforts to prevent further British pressure and their possible entry into the war.

Furthermore, the arguments Adams made in regards to legal justification and precedent in cases such as the Trent and Alabama controversies would later play a role in post-war negotiations. Primarily it factored into the arbitration of the Alabama Claims and the review of maritime neutrality law.

Photograph by George Kendall Warren

Digitized by the Library of Congress - Prints and Photographs

1861