evidence: John Adams (1735 1826) was a Founding Father, political philosopher and second president of the US (1797-1801). Adams was also a lawyer who advocated the right to counsel and presumption of innocence. He was one of the more conservative Founding Fathers but swung behind the cause of the American Revolution and helped to champion the Declaration of Independence drafted by Thomas Jefferson at the Continental Congress. He was also the first vice-president of the US (1789-1797) and foreign diplomat to the UK and Netherlands. John Adams was born on 30 October 1735 in Braintree, Massachusetts. His grandfather emigrated from England around 1638. His father was a deacon on the Congregational Church and a lieutenant in the local militia. His family were of the puritan religious tradition, and he was brought up with emphasis on morality, restraint and frugality. Until he became President, he refused to work on the Sabbath. After a basic education, he entered Harvard College in 1751, where he became immersed in the classics. To his father’s disappointment, Adams chose to pursue a career in the law, rather than train to be a deacon. He felt lawyers had the opportunity to make a real difference and gain the respect of his fellow men. [...] – John Adams Letter to Robert J. Evans (1819)