History affords countless examples of great leaders made greater by the inspiration of a spouse. Of course, there are also plenty of seemingly successful leaders in the past who had bad marriages too. But in certain historical cases, you can see clearly how a long-lasting marriage helped turn a person into a giant in their field.<\/p>\n
In colonial and Revolutionary America, perhaps the most compelling marriage was that of John and Abigail Adams. John could be stuffy and critical, and Abigail helped soften his sharp edges. More impressively, Abigail broadened and deepened the mental world of America\u2019s second president.<\/p>\n
John realized the effect that Abigail had on him even before they got married in 1764. On the eve of their wedding, John confessed that he tended to \u201csee nothing but faults, follies, frailties, and defects in anybody.\u201d But he told Abigail that she had \u201calways softened and warmed my heart, [and] shall restore my benevolence as well as my health and tranquility of mind.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t