[1] He was influenced by the works of Thomas Paine and Giuseppe Mazzini, whom he regarded as "the greatest teacher since Christ".
[3] From 1864 until retiring in 1900, Adams was editor of the Newcastle Weekly Chronicle, where (under the pseudonym Ironside) he advanced internationalism, trade unionism, co-operatives and Lib-Labism.
These included bowling greens for workers, tree planting and free libraries and parks for the people.
Due to worsening health, he spent winters in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal, where he died and was buried.
A marble bust of Adams was unveiled by Thomas Burt MP on the first anniversary of his death.