John Adam and Jane Austen

I have to confess that my first meeting with John Adams, second President of the United States, was in the musical 1776. This musical, thankfully, was very historically accurate, as well as being an excellent movie (though often bawdy and with a lot of language). John Adams was the star, though, and that was an odd choice. When we think of the writing of the Declaration of Independence, we think of Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock. Not John Adams.

And it's obvious why. He's short, not handsome (Thomas Jefferson was both tall and handsome), and "obnoxious and disliked" for his outspoken and almost arrogant speech. ("It is now obvious to me, that one useless man is called a disgrace, two are called a law firm, and three or more become a Congress.", "A flood, a simple famine, plagues of locusts everywhere/Or a cataclysmic earthquake I'd accept with some despair/But no, you sent us Congress/Dear God, sir, was that fair?", "The history books will all say that Franklin's electrical rod smote the Earth and out sprung General Washington. Franklin electrified him with his rod, and these two single-handedly conducted all the policy, negotiations, legislatures and war.")

But soon after watching that movie, I started reading John Adams by David McCullough. I expected to find the "real" John Adams. I found that 1776 had featured the real John Adams! Not only the character, but most of his lines were actual quotes! Amazing.

John Adams is a very interesting person, but he is usually pushed to the sidelines of history. He was a highly intelligent lawyer who had the ability to hold the attention of an audience for five hours; he did not believe that anyone who was not a landowner should be anywhere near government; he was highly moral and lived a very virtuous life; and he was proud and knew it as his greatest fault. In fact, this fault of his intrigued me as I read this lengthy and in-depth biography.

Jane Austen was born in 1776, and John Adams was ambassador to England from 1785 to 1788. It is possible that she knew of him, and knew his character, from all the newspaper articles about him (mostly bashing). That is my theory, at least, for John Adams resembles Fitzwilliam Darcy incredibly.

Just look at the similarities:

Both are disliked by almost everyone
Both have a close friend who is very different in character (Thomas J, Charles Bingley)
Both have witty and lively wives
Both are proud
Both love books
Both speak their mind plainly
Both had courtships that involved criticizing their future wives
Both had very strong characters
Both bemoaned dissipation

Also, John Adams intitials are the same as Jane Austen's (and John and Jane are just forms of the same name), but that's just coincedence. :)

“There are persons whom in my heart I despise, others I abhor. Yet I am not obliged to inform the one of my contempt, nor the other of my detestation. This kind of dissimulation...is a necessary branch of wisdom, and so far from being immoral...that it is a duty and a virtue.” John Adams

“A puffy, vain, conceited conversation never fails to bring a man into contempt, although his natural endowments be ever so great, and his application and industry ever so intense....And I must own myself to have been, to a very heinous degree, guilty in this respect.” John Adams

Doesn't that sound like the reformed Darcy? It is quite the theme of Pride and Prejudice at least.

“Open in their affections for one another, she and John were also open in their criticisms. ‘Candor is my characteristic,’ he told her, as though she might not be noticed. He thought she could improve her singing voice. He faulted her for her ‘parrot-toed’ way of walking and for sitting cross-legged. She told him he was too severe in his judgments of people and that to others often appeared haughty.” David McCullough about John and Abigail Adams’ courtship

Her family and connections may not have been a disgrace, but this is certainly reminiscent. Especially "Candor is my characteristic" which echoes Darcy's "Disguise of every sort is my abhorrence."

“Thanks to God that he gave me stubbornness when I know I am right.” John Adams

LOL! Who else could Darcy be so like but John Adams?

“That I have no friendship for Franklin I avow. That I am incapable of having any with a man of his moral sentiments I avow. As far as fate shall compel me to sit with him in public affairs, I shall treat him with decency and perfect impartiality.” John Adams

The main difference between John and Fitzwilliam is that John always knew that his fault was pride, while Fitzwilliam was blind to it.

“She has stateliness in her manners which some misconstrue into pride and a haughtiness, but which rather results from too great reserve; she want more affability, but she has prudence and discretion beyond her years. She is in her person tall, large, and majestic; Mamma’s partiality allows her to be a good figure. Her sensibility is not yet which attracts whilst it is attracted. Her manners rather forbid all kinds of intimacy and awe whilst they command.” Abigail Adams about Nabby Adams (“In the name of all that is tender don’t criticize your daughter for those qualities which are her greatest glory, her reserve and her prudence.” John Adams in response)

Nabby is John Adams daughter, and she certainly inherited his character. As well as the character of a certain famous literary character.

Now, you may think this is all a coincedence. After all, Jane Austen would have been only 13 when John Adams left to go back to America. But I like to think, having an overactive imagination, that it might have been design. Besides, I like John Adams, and I like Fitzwilliam Darcy, and I would give my right arm to see a meeting between them. Or a meeting between their wives, who are equally similar in character. Well, we can't ask Miss Austen, so I will be left with only speculation that is tickling and maybe far-fetched.

I am almost positive that Horatio Hornblower was based off of Horatio Nelson. So is there another literary connection?