John Quincy Adams published 9 non-fiction books, 2 poetry collections and 3 other books, beginning with Letters on Silesia (1804). The best-known is Dermot MacMorrogh (1832).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with John Quincy Adams
Start here
Dermot MacMorrogh
John Quincy Adams's most-read book.
Non-fiction in order
Letters on Silesia (1804)
American Principles (1809)
Lectures on Rhetoric and Oratory (1810)
The Duplicate Letters, the Fisheries and the Mississippi (1822)
An Eulogy: On the Life and Character of James Monroe, Fifth President of the United States (1831)
Oration on the Life and Character of Gilbert Motier De Lafayette (1835)
Life of General Lafayette (1847)
Memoirs of John Quincy Adams (1874)
Poetry in order
Dermot MacMorrogh (1832)
Poems of Religion & Society (1848)
Other books in order
The Social Compact (1842)
Lives of Celebrated Statesmen (1846)
Letters of John Quincy Adams to His Son, on the Bible and Its Teachings (1848)
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About John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams was the sixth president of the United States, serving from 1825 to 1829. He previously served as the eighth United States secretary of state from 1817 to 1825; minister to Great Britain, Prussia, and Russia; and senator for Massachusetts. After his presidency, Adams uniquely returned to Congress as a member of the lower house until his death in 1848. He was the eldest son of John Adams, the second president, and First Lady Abigail Adams. Among his children were Charles Francis Adams Sr. Initially a Federalist like his father, Adams spent his presidency as a member of the Democratic-Republican Party, and later, in the mid-1830s, became affiliated with the Whig Party.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
John Quincy Adams FAQ
- How many books has John Quincy Adams written?
- John Quincy Adams published 9 non-fiction books, 2 poetry collections and 3 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read John Quincy Adams's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Dermot MacMorrogh.
- What is John Quincy Adams's last book?
- Life of General Lafayette (1847).
- What is John Quincy Adams's most famous book?
- Dermot MacMorrogh (1832) is John Quincy Adams's most widely read book.
- Can I read John Quincy Adams's books for free?
- Yes. 3 books by John Quincy Adams are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like John Quincy Adams
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.