James Monroe's Life

James Monroe was born on April 28, 1758 in Westmoreland County, Virginia.  He left home to attend William and Mary College when he was 16. He joined the Third Virginia Regiment two years later to fight in the American Revolution. In 1782 he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates. In 1783 he became a member of the Congress of the Confederation and served until 1786. James Monroe married Elizabeth Kortright. In 1790 he was elected Us senator and served for four years, until he was appointed minister to France by George Washington. He retired from that position and two years later he was elected Governor of Virginia. In 1803 Monroe went on a diplomatic mission to France to negotiate the Louisiana Purchase.  President Jefferson appointed Monroe minister to Great Britain and a year later minister to Spain. In 1810 he was elected to the Virginia Legislature. He served one year and left when he was elected Governor again in 1811. The same year he was appointed Secretary of State and also served under James Madison as the Secretary of War between 1814-1815. In 1817 Monroe was elected President of the United States. During his administration he bought Florida from Spain and established the Canadian border. He authored the Monroe doctrine that warned nations in Europe not to take over or set up colonies in North America and South America. His presidency was known as the Era of Good Feeling; a period of national optimism, expansion and growth. He left office in 1825 after serving two terms. He moved to Loudon County, Virginia with his wife. After she died in 1830 Monroe moved to New York City with his daughter until he died a year later on July 4, 1831, the fifty-fifth approval of the Declaration. His death followed those of John Adam's and Thomas Jefferson by exactly five years. He was the last President to die on the fourth of July. Note: James Monroe was President from 1817 through 1825 and the Vice President was Daniel Tompkins.