On this day in history, in 1826, two of the most important founding fathers of the United States–John Adams and Thomas Jefferson–died fifty years after the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress.
The two men had divergent personalities and backgrounds. Adams, a Massachusetts lawyer and farmer, came from Puritan stock. He was religious, principled, practical, stubborn and temperamental. He sought to live out the ideals he professed.
Jefferson was a Virginian planter, architect, inventor, and writer. He was eloquent, philosophical, diplomatic and yet also complex and opaque. Jefferson had many obvious contradictions that he neither justified nor explained. He spoke of freedom but enslaved hundreds; he championed democracy but feared mob rule; he identified with common farmers but lived in luxury both on his estate in Monticello and abroad as a diplomat.
However, Adams and Jefferson shared a love for a nation built on their shared ideals of liberty, democracy and law. Their collegiality grew out of necessity. In the years preceding the revolution, both men knew that an American nation would require unity between the thirteen colonies. Jefferson and Adams’ collaboration in the Continental Congress, despite their personal and political differences, showed the strength of the American political process which involved debate, discussion, compromise and consensus.
Through their work, they become friends and went on to both serve as diplomats in Paris and Jefferson was VP to Adams from 1796-1800 (under the old process where the man who had the second-most ballots served as second chair). Adams was the second U.S. President for one term and Jefferson was the third U.S. President, serving two terms. Yet rivalry, competition and disagreement nagged at their working and personal relationship leading to an eleven-year silence after their service in Washington.
As older men in their 70s, however, they began to write letters to one another. By that point, they had both suffered the loss of wives and children. While their political disagreements persisted, yet they found common ground in their shared memories, families, faith and in celebrating what they had accomplished together for their nation.
Their letters showed genuine appreciation and concern for the other. Jefferson ended his letter to Adams on February 15, 1825: “Nights of rest to you and days of tranquility are the wishes I tender you with my affect[ion]ate respects.” But unto their last breaths, their competition endured. It was reported that Adams’ last words on July 4, 1826 were reported to have been “Jefferson lives.” He was wrong. Jefferson died earlier that day at Monticello. Fifty years after the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, two of the most significant founding fathers had died within hours of each other. They died as friends.
Their co-labor, competitive and brotherly bond mirrors the same bonds between friends in Scripture: David and Jonathan; Peter and John; Paul and Silas. The Bible attests to the fierce loyalty, competitive spirit and brotherly affection that gifted men, co-laboring together on a common mission, can forge.
Adams and Jefferson’s story also shows how fragile this friendship can be, which is also evident in Scripture. Jonathan continued to be loyal to his father Saul instead of David which cost him his life (2 Sam. 1); Peter compared himself to John (John 21); Paul and Silas had a sharp disagreement, which led to their parting (Acts 15:39-41).
On this July 4th, there are lessons to be learned from the brothers-in-arms in Adams and Jefferson, David and Jonathan, Peter and John, and Paul and Silas. Each friendship shows how dynamic, yet difficult, co-laboring can be but also reveals the power of mutual honor, brotherly love and forgiveness.