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James Monroe (April 28, 1758–July 4, 1831) was the fifth president of the United States. He fought with distinction in the American Revolution and served in the cabinets of Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison before winning the presidency. He is best remembered for creating the Monroe Doctrine, a key tenet of United States foreign policy, which warned European nations against intervening in the Western Hemisphere. He was a staunch anti-Federalist.
James Monroe was born on April 28, 1758, and grew up in Virginia. He was the son of Spence Monroe, a well-off planter and carpenter, and Elizabeth Jones, who was well educated for her time. His mother died before 1774, and his father died soon after when James was 16. Monroe inherited his father's estate. He studied at Campbelltown Academy and then went to the College of William and Mary. He dropped out to join the Continental Army and fight in the American Revolution .
Monroe served in the Continental Army from 1776–1778 and rose to the rank of major. He was aide-de-camp to Lord Stirling during the winter at Valley Forge . After an attack by enemy fire, Monroe suffered a severed artery and lived the rest of his life with a musket ball lodged beneath his skin.
Monroe also acted as a scout during the Battle of Monmouth. He resigned in 1778 and returned to Virginia, where Governor Thomas Jefferson made him Military Commissioner of Virginia.
From 1780–1783, Monroe studied law under Thomas Jefferson . Their friendship was the springboard for Monroe's swiftly rising political career. From 1782–1783, he was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates. He then became a delegate to the Continental Congress (1783–1786). In 1786, Monroe married Elizabeth Kortright. They had two daughters together, Eliza and Maria Hester, and a son who died in infancy.
Monroe left politics briefly to practice law, but he returned to become a U.S. senator and served from 1790–1794. He had a short tenure in France as a minister (1794–1796) and then was recalled by Washington. He was elected Virginia governor (1799–1800; 1811). President Jefferson sent him to France in 1803 to negotiate the Louisiana Purchase , a key achievement of his life. He then became minister to Britain (1803–1807). In President Madison's cabinet, Monroe served as secretary of state (1811–1817) while concurrently holding the post of secretary of war from 1814–1815, the only person in U.S. history to have served both offices at the same time.
Monroe was the presidential choice of both Thomas Jefferson and James Madison . His vice president was Daniel D. Tompkins. The Federalists ran Rufus King. There was very little support for the Federalists, and Monroe won 183 out of 217 electoral votes. His victory marked the death knell for the Federalist Party.
James Monroe's administration was known as the " Era of Good Feelings ." The economy was booming and the War of 1812 had been declared a victory. The Federalists posed little opposition in the first election and none in the second, so no real partisan politics existed.
During his time in office, Monroe had to contend with the First Seminole War (1817–1818), when SeminoleNative Americans and freedom seekers raided Georgia from Spanish Florida. Monroe sent Andrew Jackson to rectify the situation. Despite being told not to invade Spanish-held Florida, Jackson did and deposed the military governor. This eventually led to the Adams-Onis Treaty (1819) where Spain ceded Florida to the United States. It also left all of Texas under Spanish control.
In 1819, America entered its first economic depression (at that time called a Panic). This lasted until 1821. Monroe made some moves to try and alleviate the effects of the depression.
In 1820, The Missouri Compromise admitted Missouri into the Union as a pro-slavery state and Maine as a free state. It also provided that the rest of the Louisiana Purchase above latitude 36 degrees 30 minutes was to be free.
Despite the depression, Monroe ran unopposed in 1820 when he ran for re-election. Therefore, there was no real campaign. He received all electoral votes save one, which was cast by William Plumer for John Quincy Adams .
Perhaps the crowning achievements of Monroe's presidency occurred in his second term: the Monroe Doctrine, issued in 1823. This became a central part of American foreign policy throughout the 19th century and to the current day. In a speech before Congress, Monroe warned European powers against expansion and colonial intervention in the Western Hemisphere. At the time, it was necessary for the British to help enforce the doctrine. Along with Theodore Roosevelt’s Roosevelt Corollary and Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Good Neighbor policy, the Monroe Doctrine is still an important part of American foreign policy.
Monroe retired to Oak Hill in Virginia. In 1829, he was sent to and named the president of the Virginia Constitutional Convention . After his wife's death, he moved to New York City to live with his daughter.
Monroe's health had been declining throughout the 1820s. He died of tuberculosis and heart failure on July 4, 1831 in New York, New York.
Monroe's time in office was known as the "Era of Good Feelings" due to the lack of partisan politics. This was the calm before the storm that would lead to the Civil War .
The completion of the Adams-Onis Treaty ended tensions with Spain with their cession of Florida. Two of the most important events during Monroe's presidency were the Missouri Compromise , which attempted to solve a potential conflict over free and pro-slavery states, and his greatest legacy the Monroe Doctrine , which continues to influence American foreign policy.
Here are 13 interesting facts about Monroe:
During the Revolutionary War , he served under General Washington, fought in several major battles in the northeast, was wounded at the Battle of Trenton — from which he carried shrapnel in his shoulder for the rest of his life — and wintered at Valley Forge, eventually reaching the rank of Colonel in the Virginia service. Monroe did not return to William & Mary but finished his legal training with then Virginia governor Jefferson. William & Mary is nonetheless proud to claim Monroe as an illustrious former student.
His farm Highland actually shared a border with Jefferson’s Monticello. With the addition of their colleague James Madison — whose home in Orange County, Virginia was situated on their way to and from Washington — three of the first five United States presidents hailed from Central Virginia.
Their warm family life is illustrated by his wife and two daughters, Eliza and Maria, accompanying Monroe on nearly all his official travel, including diplomatic assignments in France and Great Britain. During their time in France, the couple attended Napoleon I’ s Coronation in Notre Dame Cathedral.
Not widely known is his significant role in the negotiation of the Louisiana Purchase for the Jefferson administration. In 1803, Jefferson sent him to France to assist Robert Livingston with the negotiation for the port of New Orleans, telling Monroe “All eyes, all hopes, are now fixed on you.” Finding Napoleon strapped for cash and willing to sell the entirety of the Louisiana Territory, Monroe took advantage of a deal that would double the size of the nation.
The negotiations trip was ultimately unsuccessful. Fifteen years later, Monroe was eventually able to oversee the peaceful acquisition of the Florida territory during his first presidential term when he signed the Adams-Onis Treaty in 1819.
During this period of national unity following the War of 1812 , the Federalist party collapsed and the country witnessed a transitory one-party government. In 1820, Monroe saw no opposing candidates, and he was re-elected with all but one electoral votes. This was the last time the United States saw a candidate run without serious opposition — Monroe was the only president besides Washington to do so.
This momentous occasion occurred while on his goodwill tour of the Southern States. (He also took a tour of the Northern States, making him the first president since Washington to travel so widely among the states. Towns across the country greeted him with parades, lavish dinners, and other grand events. The city of Charleston, South Carolina actually barbecued an ox in honor of his visit.
He even held two positions in Madison’s presidential cabinet at the same time (Secretary of State and Secretary of War) — Monroe is the only person in history to have held two cabinet positions at once.
Morse had an established career as an artist before contributing to the telegraphic invention. He also painted John Adams in the former president’s old age.
Established by the American Colonization Society during the Monroe administration, the colony of Liberia was founded in 1821 as a destination for freed Black Americans, most of whom were generations removed from their African ancestors.
During Monroe’s annual message to Congress in 1823, he warned Europe (and, consequentially, the rest of the world) to stay out of the Americas for purposes of acquisition, or else the United States would intervene. This message constitutes a firm statement of early U.S. foreign policy.
He was the last president to dress in the style of the Revolutionary War era, which, by that time, was considered outdated and earned him the nickname “The Last Cocked Hat.” In 1825, at the Monroes' last New Year’s Day reception at the White House, one guest who shook his hand wrote, “He is tall and well formed. His dress plain and in the old style, small clothes, silk hose, knee-buckles, and pumps fastened with buckles. His manner was quiet and dignified…”
Even eerier, Jefferson and Adams also died on the same date five years earlier. On the 100th anniversary of his birth, his body was moved from New York City and reinterred at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia.
Cesare Beccaria
Samuel Adams
Andrew Jackson
George Rogers Clark
Roger Sherman
James Monroe
Martha Washington
Best Book Lists, Award Aggregation, & Book Data
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The last founding father: james monroe and a nation’s call to greatness by harlow giles unger.
In this compelling biography, award-winning author Harlow Giles Unger reveals the epic story of James Monroe (1758–1831)—the last of America’s Founding Fathers—who transformed a small, fragile nation beset by enemies into a powerful empire stretching “from sea to shining sea.” Like David McCullough’sJohn Adams and Jon Meacham’s American Lion, The Last Founding Father is both a superb read and stellar scholarship—action-filled history in the grand tradition.
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James monroe: the quest for national identity by harry ammon.
A biography of James Monroe who became the fifth president of the United States in 1816. Ammon recreates his remarkable career, through his service in the revolutionary army, the Confederation Congress, to his exertions in James Madison’s cabinet and his subsequent presidency.
James monroe by gary hart.
James Monroe is remembered today primarily for two things: for being the last of the “Virginia Dynasty”—following George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison—and for issuing the Monroe Doctrine, his statement of principles in 1823 that the western hemisphere was to be considered closed to European intervention. But Gary Hart sees Monroe as a president ahead of his time, whose priorities and accomplishments in establishing America’s “national security” have a great deal in common with chief executives of our own time.
The monroe doctrine, 1823-1826 by dexter perkins.
Filled with new insights and fresh interpretations, this is the richest study yet published on the presidency of James Monroe, the last Revolutionary War hero to ascend to that august office.
Founding rivals: madison vs. monroe, the bill of rights, and the election that saved a nation by chris derose.
In 1789, James Madison and James Monroe ran against each other for Congress—the only time that two future presidents have contested a congressional seat.
From the moment Governor Thomas Jefferson handpicked a young soldier named James Monroe to serve as an aide during the Revolutionary War, a vital friendship and political alliance was born. Both men served as governor of Virginia, minister to France, secretary of state, and president for two terms. Their lives overlapped even more clearly through shared friendships with individuals such as James Madison; shared interests, such as the creation of the University of Virginia; and shared missions, including the completion of the Louisiana Purchase.
Here is history as delightful as it is profound. Exploring the period between Jeffersonian democracy and Jacksonian democracy, George Dangerfield describes the personalities and experiences, American and European, which furthered the political transition “from the great dictum that central government is best when it governs least to the great dictum that central government must sometimes intervene strongly on behalf of the weak and the oppressed and the exploited.” The book, winner of the Pulitzer and Bancroft prizes, throws new and fresh light on an important formative period in American history.
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Early life and revolutionary war service.
James Monroe was born on April 28, 1758, in Westmoreland County, Virginia. His father, Spence Monroe, joined the Northern Neck Farmers protest against the Stamp Act in 1766. 1 Monroe enrolled in Westmoreland County's school at the age of 11, where he met John Marshall , a future Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. After losing both parents by his mid-teens, Monroe's upbringing was guided by his uncle, Joseph Jones, a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses and a confidante of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
In 1774, Monroe entered the College of William and Mary but left in 1776 to join the Continental Army during the American Revolution. He served under General George Washington and took part in the crossing of the Delaware River on Christmas night 1776, which led to a surprise assault on the Hessians at the Battle of Trenton. During this battle, Monroe suffered a severe shoulder injury from a musket ball. Washington promoted Monroe for his valor at Trenton.
Monroe's military journey continued through major conflicts such as the Battles of Brandywine and Germantown. He also endured hardships at Valley Forge during the winter of 1777-78. 2 Financial difficulties forced Monroe to resign from the military, but he then studied law under the mentorship of Thomas Jefferson, which led to his involvement in legislative and political roles.
James Monroe's political career began when he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1782. He served in the Congress under the Articles of Confederation, advocating for the navigation rights of the Mississippi, which were important for westward economic expansion. In 1790, Monroe was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he took a stance against policies he believed would centralize power excessively.
President James Madison appointed Monroe as Secretary of State in 1811 and later as Secretary of War during the War of 1812. These roles highlighted Monroe's aptitude in both domestic and international affairs.
During his presidency from 1817 to 1825, Monroe's most significant achievement was the Monroe Doctrine . Developed in collaboration with Secretary of State John Quincy Adams, this foreign policy asserted that:
The Doctrine established the United States as a growing global power with distinct foreign policy goals. 3
The Monroe Doctrine aligned with the perceived greatness and enduring framework of the Constitution, guiding the republic during the 'Era of Good Feelings'. By the end of his presidency, Monroe had expanded the blueprint drafted by the founding fathers regarding America's role on the world stage.
James Monroe married Elizabeth Kortright in 1786, and together they raised two daughters, Eliza Kortright and Maria Hester. Despite the demands of public service, Monroe remained committed to his family. His friendships with other eminent figures such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison shaped his political trajectory and enriched his personal philosophy.
Monroe's legacy is most notably defined by the Monroe Doctrine, which set the trajectory of American foreign policy and ensured that the Americas would remain free from European colonial influences. His presidency helped bridge the original constitutional intent with pragmatic federal dynamics, shaping the dialogue that would characterize U.S. engagements both domestically and internationally.
Monroe's adherence to foundational ethics, grounded yet adaptive governance, and diplomatic assertiveness resonates in contemporary U.S. politics. His legacy serves as a study in dedication to patriotic service framed within personal virtue and collective grandeur. The enduring relevance of Monroe's contributions makes him a key figure in early American statesmanship, influencing the development of the nation during its formative years.
James Monroe | |
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5th United States President « » | |
In office | Mar. 4, 1817 – Mar. 3, 1825 |
V. President | Daniel Tompkins |
Political Party | Democratic-Republican |
Personal Info | |
Born | Apr. 28, 1758 |
Died | July 4, 1831 (at age 73) |
Religion | Episcopal |
School | College of William and Mary |
Profession | Lawyer, Planter |
Signature | |
Wife | Elizabeth Kortright |
Children | Eliza Monroe Hay, James Spence Monroe, Maria Hester Monroe Gouverneur |
1. (1789–1797) | |
2. (1797-1801) | |
3. (1801-1809) | |
4. (1809-1817) | |
5. James Monroe (1817-1825) | |
6. (1825-1829) | |
7. (1829-1837) | |
8. (1837-1841) | |
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The United States of America has had a fair share of Presidents, all remembered in their own ways. But there are several who are remembered as brave, bold, and strong-willed. One of them is the fifth President of the United States, James Monroe.
Monroe was the last of the Founding Fathers of the United States. His life, both personal and as a public servant, were marked by twists of fate that served as a platform for the man’s audacity. One proof is that he was considered to be the last of the US Presidents who became a Revolutionary War hero. With this bravado, he left behind a historical legacy that includes the Era of Good Feelings and the powerful Monroe Doctrine, which will be discussed in this essay of his life and contributions.
James Monroe’s biography is rich in striking details. He was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia on April 28, 1758 to Spence Monroe, a planter and carpenter, and his married wife Elizabeth Jones Monroe. James’ father was described as a fairly prosperous planter, as he had come from a line of Scottish immigrants who had patented a large piece of land in their area.
Being the eldest son, James was expected to inherit his father’s prosperity. Fortunately, he grew to be an excellent student at the Campbelltown Academy. He also gained much from his close ties with Judge Joseph Jones, who was his uncle. James had enrolled in the College of William and Mary in 1774, but it was a period of social unrest so he dropped out to join the 3rd Virginia Regiment under the Continental Army .
As part of the army, he became an officer and fought in battles. He was even shot in the shoulder at the Battle of Trenton in 1776, but eventually recovered.
Still, he continued studying law, this time under Thomas Jefferson. Historians said that James saw legal practice as a way towards wealth, status, and influence.
In between all these, James Monroe met Elizabeth Kortright. They married in February 16, 1786, and had three children. As for his fortune in his plantation, historians noted that James was not profitable in agriculture. Even more, he sold his inherited plantation, as well as other pieces of property, to support his lifestyle and his entrance to politics.
In 1782, James Monroe became part of the Virginia House of Delegates, and from 1783-1786, he was also part of the Continental Congress.
After that, Monroe became a US Senator in 1790. He also joined Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in their party, and in 1791, he rose to become the party’s leader to the Senate.
In 1794, however, Monroe had to resign from his post in the Senate because he was appointed Minister to France. In this new position, he showed more bold acts, such as freeing Thomas Paine, who opposed the execution of Louis XVI, and freeing all Americans who were prisoners in France.
Monroe was a supporter of the French Revolution. At that time, France and Britain were at odds, and Monroe tried to assure France that America was neutral grounds. However, American policy eventually favored Britain, provoking France. Then-President George Washington then removed Monroe from being Minister to France.
Monroe returned to Virginia, and in 1799, he was elected their governor. The US President then was Thomas Jefferson, who appointed Monroe the Minister to the Court of St. James, part of Britain. Monroe proposed a new treaty with Britain, but Jefferson refused it. This eventually caused a falling out between Britain and America, and culminated in the War of 1812.
Once again, Monroe went back to Virginia and briefly served as governor. One particular incident arose in which a group of slaves planned to kidnap Governor Monroe and hold him for ransom in exchange for their freedom. This plan, named the Gabriel slave conspiracy, did not materialize because of a storm, but it solidified Monroe’s stand to emancipate the slaves. With that stand, he helped fund the freedom of the people of the West African country Liberia.
In April 1811, he became the US Secretary of State. As the war of 1812 went on, it became apparent that America was losing ground, prompting then-President James Madison to appoint Monroe Secretary of War in 1814. He had no successor as Secretary of State, so he served as both Secretary of State and Secretary of War. It was a brief juggle, however, because the war ended in the very next year, and so Monroe officially returned to being Secretary of State.
First, in the presidential elections of 1816, the Federalists were in a disorganized state, weakening any challenger to the Anti-Federalist Monroe. Thus, with little trouble in the caucus election, he was elected US President. Then, by the time Monroe’s first term was ending, the Federalists completely collapsed and there was no proper opposition at all. Thus, with an almost unanimous vote, he was reelected into office.
During his leadership, Monroe made changes in appointments in order to balance his choices and minimize partisan tensions. This led to the “Era of Good Feelings”, a period in American history characterized by less political strife and more expressions of good will.
The President was largely praised by historians for his choices of appointees into the Administration, Cabinet, and Judiciary. Not only were his choices careful and balanced, these appointees also proved efficient in their posts. Most notable was John Quincy Adams, whom Monroe chose as the Secretary of State. Adams was a very good diplomat, largely assisting the President from his decisions down to his speeches.
Unfortunately, a great economic depression fell upon his administration, a depression known as the Panic of 1819. This affected domestic policymaking, and particularly prolonged the debate on banishing slavery in Missouri.
In addition, Monroe also had to deal with the hostile actions of the Seminole Indians, a group of Native Americans. He ordered the punishment of these Indians and their Spanish supporters. This became a national controversy and subject of heavy debate, but in the end, the House of Representatives gave some support to the President’s actions. Monroe even intended to teach the Indians to transition from their hunting stage into an agricultural society.
At that time, Florida was a territory of Spain, thus it was called Spanish Florida. Monroe’s actions against the Spanish stirred up trouble. Fortunately, with the great help of his Secretary of State John Quincy Adams, Spain signed a treaty giving back Florida to America in 1821 with the return of the $5,000,000 worth of claims.
It was also during this period that other Spanish and Portuguese colonies across Latin America rose and claimed their independence. The US expressed its support to these newly-independent countries. This was the basis of Monroe’s declaration that any European action to colonize any part of the Americas would call for the intervention of the US. This was the Monroe Doctrine, arguably the President’s most significant contribution in history. The Monroe Doctrine gained solid ground, obtaining support from Britain and even preventing Russian encroaching on the Pacific coast.
James Monroe’s presidency ended on March 4, 1825. He stayed for a while at Monroe Hill in the University of Virginia. When his wife died in 1830, he moved to New York City and stayed with his daughter. He passed away there on July 4, 1831.
The life and leadership of this US President were truly extraordinary, and so different from the other US Presidents. America honors him by naming many places and institutions after him, and even modeling a unit of currency featuring him. Even more, the capital of Liberia adapted his name and became Monrovia, the sole non-American capital to honor an American president in such way.
Monroe’s legacy is far greater than that. In his boldness and strong will, he had contributed to the growth of United States as a top influential country in the world. With his steadfast declaration of the Monroe Doctrine, he had established a new direction in the international affairs of the United States. And with his careful choices paving the way towards the Era of Good Feelings, he had made his presidency an example for a peaceful yet powerful kind of leadership.
Most of all, the legacy of James Monroe is a model of what a brave leader can do. He dared to do difficult acts, and in return, accomplished even greater feats.
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James monroe.
Fifth president of the United States
James Monroe was born on April 28, 1758, to a wealthy, slave-owning family in Virginia just as people were starting to speak out against Great Britain’s rule over the 13 North American colonies. Both of his parents died when he was a teenager.
At age 17, Monroe raided the local armory, or weapons supply shop, and stole hundreds of weapons to donate to the Virginia military in their fight for independence against Great Britain . He dropped out of the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, the following year to join the Continental Army and fight in the Revolutionary War .
Monroe served under the command of General George Washington , rising in rank to major. He crossed the Delaware River with Washington’s troops, was severely wounded during a heroic capture of British cannons in the Battle of Trenton in New Jersey, and spent a bitter winter at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, where thousands of soldiers died because of disease or freezing temperatures.
Near the end of the war Monroe left the army to study law in Thomas Jefferson ’s law practice, and later opened his own. He also began his lifelong career of public service. Before being elected president, Monroe served in the Continental Congress, or the group of representatives from the 13 colonies that would eventually become the United States ; as a U.S. senator representing Virginia; and as that state’s governor. He also served three of the first four presidents: as Washington’s minister to France , Jefferson’s minister to Great Britain, and secretary of state and secretary of war for James Madison .
Both Jefferson—the third U.S. president—and his successor, Madison, supported Monroe’s election as the fifth president. Some politicians disagreed and wanted to end the “Virginia Dynasty” of presidents. (Three of the first four presidents had come from Virginia. Eventually seven of the first 12 would be Virginians.) But Monroe’s abilities and experience were more important than where he was born, and he was easily elected in 1816.
The United States underwent major geographic changes during Monroe’s leadership. Five new states joined the nation. (The only other administration to add more—six—was Benjamin Harrison’s single term in office.)
Most important, Monroe and his secretary of state, John Quincy Adams, came up with a bold strategy for keeping other governments from meddling in the young country. While giving a speech to Congress, Monroe said that the American continents were off-limits for further colonizing by European nations. This declaration came to be known as the Monroe Doctrine. It set the stage for the expansion of the United States westward to the Pacific Ocean during the next 20 years.
Monroe added to his popularity by taking two “goodwill tours” during his time in office. In 1817 he traveled north and west as far as Maine and Michigan . Two years later he headed south to Georgia , went as far west as the Missouri Territory, and traveled back to Washington, D.C. , through Kentucky . Thousands of people showed up to hear him speak during both of these tours.
During his first term, a newspaper credited Monroe with bringing the nation an “era of good feelings.” The phrase stuck and Monroe came to be known as the “Era of Good Feelings president.” He ran for reelection for a second term in 1820 and once again won with an overwhelming number of votes.
Monroe’s presidency did have some controversy, though. The greatest debate of his administration was whether Missouri should join the Union as a state that permitted slavery. Politicians argued along their regional lines—the South was for slavery, the North against.
The debate threatened to divide the nation. If Missouri became a slave state, then more states would allow slavery than didn’t. If Missouri were free, then the free states would gain a majority.
In the end, the Missouri Compromise of 1820 admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state. Since each side in the debate gained one state, lawmakers felt the country’s balance on slavery had been maintained. They also agreed to prohibit slavery north and west of Missouri’s border—for the time being. The “Missouri Crisis” was the first of many fights among the states that would eventually lead to the Civil War.
After his second term ended in 1825, Monroe and his wife, Elizabeth, retired to Virginia. Their home, called Highland, was located near Jefferson’s home, Monticello, in Albemarle County and was run by some 200 enslaved people. When Elizabeth died in 1830, Monroe moved to New York City to live with his daughter Maria and her family. Within the year he died, too on July 4, 1831. It was exactly five years after the death of both Jefferson and President John Adams.
Monroe’s biggest legacy is said to be the Monroe Doctrine, which shaped the next century of international relations between the United States and other nations and helped the United States become one of the most powerful countries in the world.
• Monroe once defended himself with fire tongs after a disagreement with his secretary of treasury.
• Monroe was the first U.S. president to have an outdoor inauguration.
• Monroe is the only U.S. president besides Washington with a country’s capital named after him: Monrovia, Liberia.
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George Washington: Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow
John Adams: John Adams by David McCullough
Thomas Jefferson: Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power by Jon Meacham
James Madison: James Madison: America’s First Politician by Jay Cost
James Monroe: James Monroe: A Life by Tim McGrath
John Quincy Adams: John Quincy Adams: Militant Spirit by James Traub
Andrew Jackson: Andrew Jackson (three volumes) by Robert Remini
Martin Van Buren: Martin Van Buren and the American Political System by Donald B. Cole
William Henry Harrison: Mr. Jefferson’s Hammer: William Henry Harrison and the Origins of American Indian Policy by Robert M. Owens
John Tyler: John Tyler, the Accidental President by Edward P. Crapol
James K. Polk: A Country of Vast Designs: James K. Polk, the Mexican War and the Conquest of the American Continent by Robert W. Merry
Zachary Taylor: Zachary Taylor: Soldier, Planter, Statesman of the Old Southwest by K. Jack Bauer
Millard Fillmore: Millard Fillmore: Biography of a President by Robert J. Rayback
Franklin Pierce: Franklin Pierce (two volumes) by Peter A. Wallner
James Buchanan: President James Buchanan: A Biography by Philip Shriver Klein
Abraham Lincoln: Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Andrew Johnson: Impeached: The Trial of President Andrew Johnson and the Fight for Lincoln’s Legacy by David O. Stewart
Ulysses S. Grant: Grant by Ron Chernow
Rutherford B. Hayes: Rutherford B. Hayes: Warrior and President by Ari Hoogenboom
James A. Garfield: Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine, and the Murder of a President by Candice Millard
Chester A. Arthur: Gentleman Boss: The Life of Chester Alan Arthur by Thomas C. Reeves
Grover Cleveland: Grover Cleveland: A Study in Character by Alyn Brodsky
Benjamin Harrison: Benjamin Harrison (three volumes) by Harry J. Sievers
William McKinley: President McKinley: Architect of the American Century by Robert W. Merry
Theodore Roosevelt: Theodore Roosevelt (three volumes) by Edmund Morris
William Howard Taft: The Life and Times of William Howard Taft (two volumes) by Henry F. Pringle
Woodrow Wilson: Woodrow Wilson: A Biography by John Milton Cooper Jr.
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In a perfect world, I suppose, readers would absorb Monroe's early life from Ammon or Unger and then re-live Monroe's political career through the eyes of McGrath. ( Full review here) - - - - - - -. Best Biography of Monroe: " James Monroe: The Quest for National Identity " by Harry Ammon. Most Entertaining Biography of ...
James Monroe: The Quest for National Identity by Harry Ammon. A biography of James Monroe who became the fifth president of the United States in 1816. Ammon recreates his remarkable career, through his service in the revolutionary army, the Confederation Congress, to his exertions in James Madison's cabinet, his subsequent presidency, and ...
View Kindle Edition. The extraordinary life of James Monroe: soldier, senator, diplomat, and the last Founding Father to hold the presidency, a man who helped transform thirteen colonies into a vibrant and mighty republic. "A first-rate account of a remarkable life." —Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Soul of America.
James Monroe (born April 28, 1758, Westmoreland county, Virginia [U.S.]—died July 4, 1831, New York, New York, U.S.) was the fifth president of the United States (1817-25), who issued an important contribution to U.S. foreign policy in the Monroe Doctrine, a warning to European nations against intervening in the Western Hemisphere.The period of his administration has been called the Era of ...
James Monroe (/ m ə n ˈ r oʊ / mən-ROH; April 28, 1758 - July 4, 1831) was an American statesman, lawyer, diplomat, and Founding Father who served as the fifth president of the United States from 1817 to 1825, a member of the Democratic-Republican Party.He was the last Founding Father to serve as president as well as the last president of the Virginia dynasty.
Early Years. James Monroe was born on April 28, 1758, in Westmoreland County, Virginia, to Spence Monroe (1727-74), a farmer and carpenter, and Elizabeth Jones Monroe (1730-74). In 1774, at age 16 ...
Name: James Monroe. Birth Year: 1758. Birth date: April 28, 1758. Birth State: Virginia. Birth City: Westmoreland County. Birth Country: United States. Gender: Male. Best Known For: The fifth ...
James Monroe Biography. James Monroe was the fifth President of the United States, a veteran of the American Revolutionary War, and a Founding Father. He was born in Virginia on April 28, 1758, and attended the College of William & Mary. During the war, he was seriously wounded — and nearly died — at the Battle of Trenton on December 26, 1775.
James Monroe was the last American President of the "Virginia Dynasty"—of the first five men who held that position, four hailed from Virginia. Monroe also had a long and distinguished public career as a soldier, diplomat, governor, senator, and cabinet official. His presidency, which began in 1817 and lasted until 1825, encompassed what ...
Monroe, a charming man admired for his honesty, presided over two decisions that presaged the rest of 19th century American history — the Missouri Compromise and the Monroe Doctrine.
5th President. President James Monroe. Library of Congress. Born: April 28, 1758, in Westmoreland County, Virginia... Monroe, a charming man admired for his honesty, presided over two decisions ...
The biography for President Monroe and past presidents is courtesy of the White House Historical Association. James Monroe was the fifth President of the United States (1817-1825) and the last ...
1817-1825. Born: April 28th, 1758 in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Died: July 4, 1831 in New York, New York. Married to Elizabeth Kortright Monroe. Presidents by Name. Presidents by Date. View Flash Version. Biography of James Monroe, the fifth President of the United States (1817-1825).
A Distinguished Career. James Monroe was the fifth President of the United States, in office between 1817 and 1825. Born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, he had a prolific career in politics and remains in American history as a Founding Father. After fighting in the American Revolutionary War, he rose to prominence in politics by occupying ...
Fast Facts: James Monroe. Known For : Statesman, diplomat, founding father, the fifth president of the United States. Born : April 28, 1758 in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Parents: Spence Monroe and Elizabeth Jones. Died : July 4, 1831 in New York, New York. Education: Campbelltown Academy, the College of William and Mary.
James Monroe was the fifth president of the United States and Founding Father. Born on April 28, 1758, in Westmoreland County, Virginia, Monroe fought under George Washington and studied law with ...
The Last Founding Father: James Monroe and a Nation's Call to Greatness by Harlow Giles Unger. Lists It Appears On: Best Presidential Bios. Library of Congress. Mashable. Presidents USA. The Tailored Man. The Washington Post. In this compelling biography, award-winning author Harlow Giles Unger reveals the epic story of James Monroe (1758 ...
James Monroe was born on April 28, 1758, in Westmoreland County, Virginia. His father, Spence Monroe, joined the Northern Neck Farmers protest against the Stamp Act in 1766. 1 Monroe enrolled in Westmoreland County's school at the age of 11, where he met John Marshall, a future Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
James Monroe's biography is rich in striking details. He was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia on April 28, 1758 to Spence Monroe, a planter and carpenter, and his married wife Elizabeth Jones Monroe. James' father was described as a fairly prosperous planter, as he had come from a line of Scottish immigrants who had patented a large ...
Fun Facts. • Monroe once defended himself with fire tongs after a disagreement with his secretary of treasury. • Monroe was the first U.S. president to have an outdoor inauguration. • Monroe is the only U.S. president besides Washington with a country's capital named after him: Monrovia, Liberia.
5th President. President James Monroe. Library of Congress. Born: April 28, 1758, in Westmoreland County, Virginia... Monroe, a charming man admired for his honesty, presided over two decisions that presaged the rest of 19th century American history — the Missouri Compromise and the Monroe Doctrine. The first represented the growing discord ...
James Monroe was the 5th President of the United States. Served as President: 1817-1825 Vice President: Daniel D. Tompkins Party: Democratic-Republican Age at inauguration: 58 Born: April 28th, 1758 in Westmoreland County, Virginia Died: July 4, 1831 in New York, New York Married: Elizabeth Kortright Monroe Children: Eliza and Maria Nickname: Era of Good Feelings President
5th President. President James Monroe. Library of Congress. Born: April 28, 1758, in Westmoreland County, Virginia... Monroe, a charming man admired for his honesty, presided over two decisions ...
Day 29: Warren G. Harding. Books. George Washington: Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow. John Adams: John Adams by David McCullough. Thomas Jefferson: Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power by Jon Meacham. James Madison: James Madison: America's First Politician by Jay Cost. James Monroe: James Monroe: A Life by Tim McGrath.
Richmond's median home sale price has shot up around 50% since 2019 — from $273,500 to about $421,500 as of last month — while the salary needed to qualify for a starter home in the area has nearly doubled in four years, from $66,000 to $116,400. More than half of Richmond renters can't afford their monthly payments.