[50] Louisa was initially distraught at the prospect of living in Russia, but she became a popular figure at the Russian court.[51] From his diplomatic post, Adams observed the French Emperor Napoleon's invasion of Russia, which ended in defeat for the French.[52] In February 1811, President Madison nominated Adams as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court.[53] The nomination was unanimously confirmed by the Senate, but Adams declined the seat, preferring a career in politics and diplomacy, so Joseph Story took the seat instead.[54]

Treaty of Ghent and ambassador to Britain
Adams portrait – Gilbert Stuart, 1818
Adams had long feared that the United States would enter a war it could not win against Britain, and by early 1812, he saw such a war as inevitable due to the constant British attacks on American shipping and the British practice of impressment. In mid-1812, the United States declared war against Britain, beginning the War of 1812. 