On This Day: John Adams II Marries His First Cousin in a White House Wedding

On this day in 1828, John Adams II, the second son of President John Quincy Adams, married his first cousin, Mary Catherine Hellen, in a private ceremony at the White House.

Having been orphaned at a young age and taken in by her extended family, Mary Catherine Hellen was already living at the White House when she and her cousin began to cultivate a romantic relationship. In fact, she was romantically linked to all three Adams brothers—George Washington Adams, John Adams II, and Charles Francis Adams, before ultimately marrying John Adams II.

The wedding took place in what was then known as the Red Elliptical Saloon, now the Blue Room, marking one of the earliest recorded nuptials in the White House.

Although it sounds rather odd today, intermarriage among prominent families during this era was fairly common, as it was a practice believed to preserve social and political alliances.

The union of John and Mary followed in a series of intermarriages. President John Adams, the groom’s grandfather, had married his third cousin, Abigail Smith.

However, the marriage of John Adams II and Mary Catherine Hellen faced challenges. The couple’s relationship was marked by personal and financial difficulties, and they struggled to find stability. It turns out that even the most esteemed families are not immune to adversity.

The Adams’ historic wedding is one of several familial ceremonies that have taken place in the White House. Over the years, the executive residence has been the venue for 19 weddings, including those of presidential children, relatives, and even President Grover Cleveland in 1886.

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