 John Quincy Adams was born on July 11, 1767, to John and Abigail Adams (née Smith) in a part of Braintree, Massachusetts that is now Quincy.He was named for his mother's maternal grandfather, Colonel John Quincy, after whom Quincy, Massachusetts, is named.Young Adams was educated by private tutors – his cousin James Thaxter and his father's law clerk, Nathan Rice.