James Monroe
5th President of the United States
(March 4, 1817 to March 3, 1825)
Full Name: James Monroe
Nicknames: "The Last Cocked Hat"; "Era-of-Good-Feeling President"
Born: April 28, 1758, in Westmoreland County, Virginia
Died: July 4, 1831, in New York, New York
Father: Spence Monroe (1727-1774)
Mother: Elizabeth Jones Monroe (1730-1772)
Married: Elizabeth "Eliza" Kortright (1768-1830), on February 16, 1786
Children: Eliza Kortright Monroe (1786-1835); James Spence Monroe (1799-1800); Maria Hester Monroe (1803-50)
Religion: Episcopalian
Education: Attended College of William and Mary
Occupation: Lawyer
Political Party: Democratic-Republican
Other Government Positions:
- Member of Continental Congress, 1783-86
- United States Senator, 1790-94
- Minister to France, 1794-96
- Governor of Virginia, 1799-1802
- Minister to France and England, 1803-07
- Secretary of State, 1811-17 (under Madison)
- Secretary of War, 1814-15 (under Madison)
Presidential Salary: $25,000/year
Presidential Election Results:
| Year | Candidate | Electoral Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 1816 | James Monroe | 183 |
| (map) | Rufus King | 34 |
| (Votes Not Cast) | 4 |
| Year | Candidate | Electoral Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 1820 | James Monroe | 231 |
| (map) | John Quincy Adams | 1 |
| (Votes Not Cast) | 3 |
Vice President: Daniel D. Tompkins (1817-1825)
Cabinet:
- Secretary of State
- John Quincy Adams (1817-25)
- Secretary of the Treasury
- William H. Crawford (1817-25)
- Secretary of War
- John C. Calhoun (1817-25)
- Attorney General
- Richard Rush (1817)
William Wirt (1817-25) - Secretary of the Navy
- Benjamin W. Crowninshield (1817-18)
Smith Thompson (1819-23)
Samuel L. Southard (1823-25)
Supreme Court Justices:
Smith Thompson (1823-1843)
Notable Events:
- 1818
- In March, General Andrew Jackson invades Spanish-controlled Florida.
- Congress fixed the number of stripes on the U.S. flag at 13 to honor the original colonies, April 4.
- On October 20, Anglo-American Convention set the 49th parallel as the border with Canada.
- 1819
- In January, the Panic of 1819 begins.
- On February 22, Spain ceded Florida to the United States. In exchange the U.S. cancelled $5 million in Spanish debts.
- 1820
- On March 6, Monroe signed the Missouri Compromise which forbade slavery above 36 degrees 30 minutes latitude.
- 1823
- On December 2, Monroe Doctrine delivered to Congress.
Internet Biographies:
- James Monroe -- from The Presidents of the United States of America
- Compiled by the White House.
- James Monroe -- from The American President
- From the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia, in addition to information on the Presidents themselves, they have first lady and cabinet member biographies, listings of presidential staff and advisers, and timelines detailing significant events in the lives of each administration.
- James Monroe -- from Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Facts about Monroe and his presidency.
Videos:
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American Presidents: Life Portraits - James MonroePres. Monroe Missed Unanimous Re-election By One Vote - a Presidential Story Ep. 41America's Presidents - James MonroeAsh Lawn-Highland Home of President James MonroeJames Monroe | 60-Second Presidents | PBS1 / 2
Historical Documents:
- First Inaugural Address (1817)
- Second Inaugural Address (1821)
- Monroe Doctrine (1823)
- James Monroe Digital Collections - from the Library of Congress
Other Internet Resources:
- Ash Lawn -- Highland
- The Virginia home of James Madison from 1799-1826. Contains a short biography of the president, tourist information, and interior photographs of the estate.
- The Best Biographies of James Monroe
- In 2012, Stephen Floyd started his search for the best biography of each president. He usually has reviews of multiple biographies for each president.
- Health and Medical History of James Monroe
- Medical background of each president with references. Compiled by John Sotos, MD.
- James Monroe Memorial Foundation
- Raising public awareness about Monroe's history, including the construction maintenance of his birthplace home.
- James Monroe Museum & Memorial Library
- Tourist and exhibit information about the museum, run by the University of Mary Washington.
Points of Interest:
4460 James Monroe Hwy, Colonial Beach, VA 22443
908 Charles Street, Fredericksburg, Virginia
2050 James Monroe Pkwy, Charlottesville, VA 22902
4460 James Monroe Hwy, Colonial Beach, VA 22443
908 Charles Street, Fredericksburg, Virginia
2050 James Monroe Pkwy, Charlottesville, VA 22902
Additional Facts:
- Monroe was the first president to ride on a steamboat.
- At sixteen years old, Monroe attended the college of William and Mary.
- He was the first president to have been a U.S. senator.
- In the election of 1820 Monroe received every electoral vote except one. A New Hampshire delegate's vote against Monroe ensured Washington would be the only president elected unanimously.
- Monroe's inauguration in 1817 was the first to be held outdoors.
- The bride in the first White House wedding was Monroe's daughter, Mary.
- The U.S. Marine Band played at Monroe's 1821 inauguration and at every inauguration since.
- Even as president, Monroe preferred to be called "Colonel Monroe."
- Monrovia, Liberia is the only non-U.S. capital named after a U.S. president.
Quotes:“A little flattery will support a man through great fatigue.”
“National honor is the national property of the highest value.”
“A little flattery will support a man through great fatigue.”
“National honor is the national property of the highest value.”