John Adams ( October 30 , 1735 â `` July 4 , 1826 ) was the second President of the United States ( 1797 â `` 1801 ) , and father of the sixth President , John Quincy Adams . John Adams ( October 30 , 1735 â `` July 4 , 1826 ) was an American statesman , diplomat and political theorist . A leading champion of independence in 1776 , he was the second President of the United States ( 1797 â `` 1801 ) .