John Quincy Adams was the sixth president, and son of John Adams. In 1794, he was appointed by George Washington to the post of U.S. Minister to the Netherlands. Adams was elected to the United States Senate in 1803. In 1808 he lost this position. He was appointed to represent the United States in Russia's Court in 1809. President James Monroe appointed him his Secretary of State in 1817.

Adams was elected to the presidency in 1825. As President, his Secretary of the Treasury was Richard Rush.

After his term, he retired to civilian life, but before long was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he remained until his death in 1848, serving 17 years.

Adams was an abolitionist, and made effort to disallow slavery in newly admitted states and any child born after July 4, 1842.

John Quincy Adams praised Smithson's far-seeing benefaction and was the fund's defender and protector in Congress.

Rush was the prominent lawyer hired to see the Smithson bequest through England's Court of Chancery. He was selected in part because he had been U.S. Minister to Great Britain from 1817-1825. Previously he was Secretary of State under James Monroe, Secretary of Treasury for John Quincy Adams, and a recent Vice-Presidential candidate. His father was Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.