John Adams

John Adams, Presidential Pardons, and the Fate of David Bradford

After the Whiskey Rebellion collapsed, President George Washington issued broad pardons to most participants. One notable exception was rebellion leader David Bradford, who fled the country to Spanish West Florida (later Louisiana).

Bradford lived in exile for more than four years while his wife Elizabeth wrote repeatedly to Washington seeking mercy. Washington refused. When John Adams became president, Bradford appealed again.

On March 9, 1799, Adams issued a full and unconditional pardon, citing Bradford’s suffering, repentance, and the restoration of peace. This decision reinforced the constitutional power of presidential pardon.

Bradford’s case links two presidents and marks the earliest uses of executive clemency in American history. Although Bradford never returned to live in Pennsylvania, his story remains central to understanding the rebellion’s legacy.

The Bradford House interprets this moment as a turning point in the balance between justice, mercy, and federal authority in the young republic.