James Monroe, 5th US President

1758 - 1831  (73 years)

• Name	James Monroe  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
  Suffix	5th US President
  Born	28 Apr 1758	, Westmoreland Co., Virginia, USA   [3, 6, 7, 8]
  	Monroe Hall on Monroes Creek
  Gender	Male
  Died	4 Jul 1831	New York, New York Co., New York, USA   [2, 7, 9]
  	James died at the home of his daughter in New York.
  Buried	Richmond, Richmond (city), Virginia, USA
  	Hollywood Cemetery
  Person ID	I1626	Munro
  Last Modified	1 May 2013

  
  

  Father	Col. Spence Monroe,   b. 1727, , Westmoreland Co., Virginia, USA ,   d. 1774, , Westmoreland Co., Virginia, USA  (Age 47 years)
  Mother	Elizabeth Jones,   b. 1729, , King George Co., Virginia, USA ,   d. 1806, Fredericksburg, , Virginia, USA  (Age 77 years)
  Married	1752	, King George Co., Virginia, USA   [6]
  Family ID	F772	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Elizabeth Kortright,   b. 30 Jun 1768, New York, New York Co., New York, USA ,   d. 23 Sep 1830, Oak Hill, Albemarle Co., Virginia, USA  (Age 62 years)
  Married	16 Feb 1786	New York, New York Co., New York, USA   [3, 7, 9, 10]
  	Trinity Episcopal Church [10]
  Children	+ 1. Elizabeth Kortright Monroe,   b. 5 Dec 1787, Fredericksburg, , Virginia, USA ,   d. 27 Jan 1840, Paris, , Rhône-Alpes, France  (Age 52 years)   2. James Spence Monroe,   b. May 1799,   d. 28 Sep 1800, Richmond, Richmond (city), Virginia, USA  (Age ~ 1 years) + 3. Maria Hester Monroe,   b. 1803, Paris, , Rhône-Alpes, France ,   d. 1850, Richmond, Richmond (city), Virginia, USA  (Age 47 years)
  Last Modified	20 Jan 2009
  Family ID	F771	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  After a preliminary course in the local schools, and some tutoring by William Douglas, James entered William and Mary College in 1776. When the Revolutionary War broke out, he joined Washington near New York City where he began serving as a Lieutenant. He was among the soldiers who rowed across the Delaware with Washington. He was wounded at Harlem Heights and was promoted to Captain upon his recovery. Later, as a Major, he served as volunteer aide on the staff of Samuel Sterling. He finished the war as a Lieutenant Colonel in a Virginia unit. Although he was eager to follow a military career, he was unable to obtain a permanent command when the war ended. He studied law under the supervision of Thomas Jefferson and was admitted to the bar and practiced in Fredericksburg, Virginia, where he served as town councilman, his first public office. He served in official positions for nearly 50 years. In 1782, at the age of 24, he was elected a member of the Virginia State Assembly. He served as a member of the Continental Congress 1783-1786. He was elected to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William Grayson. He was reelected in 1791 and resigned in 1794. He was appointed United States Minister Plenipotentiary to France by President Washington and served until 1796. He was elected Governor of Virginia 1799-1802, and was again appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to France by President Jefferson and served from 12 Jan to 12 Jul 1803. He was appointed to the same post in England and served from 1803 to 1807. He also served as Minister to Spain. He was again elected as Governor of Virginia in 1811 but President Madison appointed him to his Cabinet as Secretary of State and Secretary of War (at the same time) and he served from 1811 to 1817. He was then elected President of the United States for two terms from 1817 to 1825. While Minister to France under President Washington, he was ridiculed and recalled by Washington. Under President Jefferson, he returned to France with the treaty for the purchase of Louisiana. He was also discredited as Minister to England. He gained prestige when, as Secretary of War under President Madison, he ordered the forces assembled at New Orleans in the War of 1812. He was keenly interested in military matters. He enjoyed horseback riding and travel. While a member of Congress, he made a trip on the Great Lakes and down the Ohio River, inspecting posts occupied by British troops and studying the natural resources of the country and the attitude of Indians toward Americans. A connoisseur of art, he purchased for the White House the best Paris afforded. He was inaugurated as fifth President of the United States on 4 Mar 1817 and served eight years. His administration was known as the "Era of Good Feeling", but in reality it was full of plots and disagreements, one example being the Missouri Compromise. However, during his presidency, legislation of great constructive value was enacted, and Florida was purchased from Spain. During his second term as President, in 1823, a discussion arose over the possibility of Spain's regaining possession of Florida and in a message to Congress he said: "We should consider any attempt on their part (a foreign power) to extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to our peace and safety..." and also further, "The American Continents, by the free and independent condition which they have assumed and maintained, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers." Thus was born the famous Monroe Doctrine which has been at the foundation of US policy in the new world ever since. He retired from the White House to his farm at Oak Hill, Virginia. He died poor in New York City at the home of his daughter on 4 Jul 1831. He was first buried in New York City, but was later re-interred in Richmond, Virginia. Oak Hill, erected in 1820 by President Monroe, was designed by Thomas Jefferson and the plans were completed by James Hoban, designer and builder of the White House and supervising architect for the Capitol. President Monroe employed william Benton, an Englishman, to superintend the construction of the mansion under Hoban's supervision and to manage the extensive farming operations of the estate. It is said that Benton served the President "in the triple capacity of steward, counselor, and friend." James' will was dated 1831 and proved in 1847. ********** The following is from "Clan Munro" compiled by Alan McNie, published in Jedburgh, Scotland. It is from the chapter entitled "Some Clan Notables". Munroe, James (1758-1831) Monroe entered US Senate in 1790. He was a critic of Washington and helped organise the Republican party in opposition. He became President in 1816 and sought to maintain a large peacetime army. In his presidency, Mississippi, Illinois, Alabama, Maine and Missouri joined the Union. In 1819 Spain ceded Florida. In the Monroe Doctrine he showed his desire for America's independence, disapproving of European intervention and affirming America's intention of not interfering in the internal affairs of other nations and stating the America's were not to be considered open to further European colonization. ********** ********** «i»The Capture of the Hessians at Trenton [the painting] by John Trumbull dramatizes the scene of the wounded Lt. James Monroe, who had been injured in the final stages of the Battle of Trenton. Lt. Monroe had been hit by a musket ball, severing an artery. The doctor who is tending him is the same man who had ordered Washington's troops off of his property as they advanced towards Trenton. When Dr. Riker realized they were not the British, but Americans, he volunteered to join them thinking he would be of some help later. Little did anyone know that Dr. Riker would clamp off the severed artery of Lt. Monroe, saving the life of this valiant patriot and future president.«/i» ("Capture of the Hessians at Trenton" - Eagle Flyer - Spring 2011 - Editor: Margaret Bardin) ********** Ref: Clan Munro files - Cones, Mona - Monroe, Ruby Lucille - Stroud, Anna Margaret - Monroe, James Harrison - Johnson, Monroe References: (1) Clan Munro files - Phillips, Robert Lee Munro - "Mr. President: 5" - article from the Courier-Journal Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA [3, 4, 7, 11, 12, 13]

  
  

• Sources

  [S108] Clan Munro files - Keener, Daris Elaine Fately, Daris Elaine Fately Keener, Membership application for Elaine Fately Keener dated 31 Ju l 2001 (Reliability: 3). [S645] Clan Munro files - Boggs, Elizabeth Monroe, Elizabeth Monroe Boggs, Descendants of Andrew Monroe Who settled in Westmoreland Co unty, Virginia, 1652 - undated (Reliability: 3). [S645] Clan Munro files - Boggs, Elizabeth Monroe, Elizabeth Monroe Boggs, Monroe - 23 Aug 1932 (Reliability: 3). [S721] Clan Munro files - Malloy, Alice Monroe, Alice Monroe Malloy, Membership application for Alice Monroe Malloy - 24 Jun 2009 (Reliability: 3). [S668] RW Munro's Genealogy Database, Robert William Munro, (The collected genealogy notes of RW Munro, Hon. Historian of Clan Munro (Association) edited by Dr. Jean Munro, transcribed by Charles C. Munroe, III and others. Transcription completed Jan 2009. Original card file is kept at the "Storehouse of Foulis" near Foulis Castle in Scotland.), card 349, 385, 389 (Reliability: 3). 1 [S344] Clan Munro files - Johnson, Monroe, Monroe Johnson, Descendants of Andrew Monroe - received 22 Apr 2004 - p. 17 (Reliability: 3). [S645] Clan Munro files - Boggs, Elizabeth Monroe, Elizabeth Monroe Boggs, "William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine " - Vol. XIII #4 - Oct 1933 - The Monroe Family - p. 231-241 (Reliability: 3). [S702] Clan Munro files - Loehr, Reta Malan, Reta Malan Loehr, Genealogy data received from Reta Malan Loehr - Jun 2009 (Reliability: 3). [S618] Clan Munro files - Belton, Celia Munro, Celia Munro Belton, Lineage of James Monroe (Reliability: 3). [S344] Clan Munro files - Johnson, Monroe, Monroe Johnson, Descendants of Andrew Monroe - received 22 Apr 2004 - p. 28 (Reliability: 3). [S341] Clan Munro files - Allen, Daniel Thomas, Daniel Thomas Allen, Membership application for Daniel T. Allen dated 7 Jun 1999 (Reliability: 3). [S386] Clan Munro files - Munroe, Charles C., III, Charles C. Munroe, III, Historical & Biographical Sketch of the Monroe (Munroe) an d Monro (Munro) Family - p. 20 (Reliability: 3). [S344] Clan Munro files - Johnson, Monroe, Monroe Johnson, Descendants of Andrew Monroe - received 22 Apr 2004 - p. 60 (Reliability: 3).