Who was the first American president to serve only one term of office?

After serving two terms as George Washington's vice president, John Adams was elected president in his own right in 1796. Adams was the first president to reside in what was to become known as the White House. He became recognized as the "father of the American Navy", due to his staunch support of the armed forces. In the presidential election of 1800 Adams lost to Thomas Jefferson, his old cohort in the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. After Jefferson's retirement the two old cronies started a correspondence which lasted the remainder of their lives. They both died on July 4, 1826, exactly 50 years after the Declaration of Independance was signed. Adams last words were "Jefferson still survives". In this, however, he was incorrect. Jefferson had passed a few hours earlier.