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James Monroe ( / mənˈroʊ / 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.
- Early Years
- The Virginia Politician
- A Leader at Home and Abroad
- The 'Era of Good Feelings'
- A Second Term and The Monroe Doctrine
- Later Years
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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, Monroe entered the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. He cut his college studies short in 1776 to join the Continental Army and fight for indepen...
Following his military service, Monroe embarked on a career in politics. In 1782, he became a delegate in the Virginia Assembly and the following year was chosen as a Virginia representative to the Congress of the Confederation, America’s governing body from 1781 to 1789. In 1786, Monroe married Elizabeth Kortright (1768-1830), the teenage daughter...
In 1794, President George Washington(1732-99) appointed Monroe as minister to France, in an effort to help improve relations with that nation. At the time, France and Great Britain were at war. Monroe had some initial success in strengthening Franco-American ties; however, relations soured with the November 1794 signing of the controversial Jay’s T...
In 1816, Monroe ran for president again, as a Democratic-Republican, and this time handily defeated Federalist candidate Rufus King (1755-1827). When he was sworn into office on March 4, 1817, Monroe became the first U.S. president to have his ceremony outdoors and give his inaugural address to the public. The new president and his family could not...
In 1820, though the U.S. economy was suffering, Monroe ran unopposed and was elected to a second term as president. During this term, he wanted to exert the growing power of the U.S. in the world arena and make a statement of support for free governments in the Americas. Monroe was helped greatly with foreign policy by his secretary of state, John ...
In 1825, Monroe left office and retired to Virginia, where he helped preside over a new state constitution in 1829. After his wife died in 1830, Monroe moved in with his daughter in New York City, where he died on July 4, 1831, at age 73. His passing came exactly five years after the deaths of fellow presidents Thomas Jefferson and John Adams(1735-...
Learn about James Monroe, the fifth U.S. president who oversaw the Louisiana Purchase, the War of 1812 and the Monroe Doctrine. Explore his early life, political career, achievements and legacy.
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.
- Samuel Flagg Bemis
Learn about the life and achievements of James Monroe, the fifth President of the United States and the last Founding Father. Find out how he shaped the nation's foreign policy, the Missouri Compromise, and the Era of Good Feelings.
Apr 2, 2014 · Who Was James Monroe? James Monroe fought under George Washington and studied law with Thomas Jefferson. He was elected the fifth president of the United States in 1817.
Dec 17, 2022 · Learn about James Monroe, the fifth President of the United States and a Founding Father who fought in the Revolutionary War and negotiated the Louisiana Purchase. Explore his life, career, achievements, and legacy in this comprehensive article.
James Monroe. Considered the last “Founding Father” president, James Monroe was born on April 28, 1758 into an affluent, slave-owning family in Westmoreland County, Virginia. His parents, Spence and Elizabeth Monroe, had aspirations for their eldest son, sending him to nearby Campbelltown Academy.
