Many historians know our second president for his fickle nature: his defense of British soldiers after the Boston Massacre, his notorious correspondence with his wife Abigail, and then there was that whole complicated bromace with Thomas Jefferson—the original frenemies. So here’s one to add to the list: he went to his grave refusing to take part in Independence Day celebrations on the 4th of July. According to Adams, the colonies truly broke from tyranny on July 2nd—the day that the members of the Continental Congress first voted to approve the Declaration of Independence.