A Brief Biography of James Monroe

A popular peacetime president who opposed the constitution and was politically against George Washington and the Federalist Party, James Monroe, our fifth President was born in Westmoreland Co., Virginia in 1758. Monroe attended William and Mary College but he dropped out to fight with distinction in the Continental Army. Monroe studied law with Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was his mentor. Monroe practiced law in Fredericksburg, Va. spent the next four years in Madrid and London. He again became Governor of Virginia in 1811; Secretary of State under President Madison from 1811-1817, and also served a term as Secretary of War.

He served in the Virginia legislature and afterwards completed a three year term in the Confederation Congress from 1783-86. He chaired the committee that would prepare the way for the Constitution, though he did not participate in its creation. He did not approve of the power it gave to the central government.

He opposed George Washington as a U.S. Senator but was still appointed ambassador to France. He displayed strong sympathies for the French cause. An angry President Washington recalled him for opposing the Jay Treaty. After his recall as French Ambassador, he became Governor of Virginia from 1799-1802. As a delegate for Jefferson, he helped negotiate the Louisiana Purchase.

Monroe was elected President in 1817, and was voted into a second term in 1820. Part of his success as President was due to making strong Cabinet choices. He was a popular peacetime President and his terms became known as "the era of good feeling". During his Presidency he gained Florida from Spain and established a ruling which proclaimed American hostility to any further European colonization or interference in the Americas. Twenty years after his death, this became known as the Monroe Doctrine.

A Virginia lady who shook his hand at the last of his annual White House receptions described him: "He is tall and well formed. His dress plain and in the old style...his manner was quiet and dignified. From the frank, honest expression of his eye...I think he well deserves the econium passed on to him by the great Jefferson, who said, 'Monroe was so honest if you turned his soul inside out there would not be a spot on it'."

In his declining years he served as regent of the University of Virginia from 1826-1830. Public service had left him destitute and he spent the last few months of his life with his daughter. He died in 1831.