Biography james monroe
•
James Monroe: Life in Brief
James Monroe was the last American President of the “Virginia Dynasty”—of the first five men who held that position, four hailed from Virginia. Monroe also had a long and distinguished public career as a soldier, diplomat, governor, senator, and cabinet official. His presidency, which began in and lasted until , encompassed what came to be called the "Era of Good Feelings." One of his lasting achievements was the Monroe Doctrine, which became a major tenet of U.S. foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere.
Early Revolutionary
James Monroe was born in to prosperous Virginia planters. His parents died when he was a teenager, leaving him part of the family farm. He enrolled at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg in , and almost immediately began participating in revolutionary activities. With a group of classmates, he raided the arsenal at the British Governor's Palace, escaping with muskets and swords, which the students presented to the Vi
•
Biographies of the Secretaries of State: James Monroe (–)
Influence on American Diplomacy
Monroe conducted numerous diplomatic missions addressing the most critical international threats facing his generation. President George Washington appointed Monroe Minister to France in Jay’s Treaty frustrated Monroe’s efforts to retain cordial relations with the French Government and he was recalled in
Monroe returned to France in on a successful mission to assist Robert Livingston with the Louisiana Purchase negotiations. Monroe also served as Minister to Britain from until , a period complicated bygd disputes over U.S. neutrality rights. In Monroe traveled to Spain, intending to win recognition of the U.S. possession of West Florida. The United States claimed the territory as part of the Louisiana Purchase, but Monroe could not gain the consent of the Spanish Government.
Monroe joined with Special Commissioner William Pinkney in in the effort to halt British impressment of U.S. sailo
•
Born on April 28, —in Westmoreland County, Virginia—James Monroe was the second of five children of Spence and Elizabeth Jones Monroe, “small” planters who raised tobacco on their farm of approximately acres. Initially educated at Parson Campbell’s school in Westmoreland, the future President studied at William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, from until , when he enlisted in the Continental Army’s Third Virginia Infantry Regiment.
As an year-old Lieutenant, Monroe crossed the Delaware River during Gen. George Washington’s December campaign, and was wounded at the subsequent Battle of Trenton. During the winter of , Monroe camped with the army at Valley Forge. The following June he participated in the Battle of Monmouth, New Jersey. After leaving the army in January , he continued to serve in the Virginia Militia and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.
Monroe returned to Williamsburg and met Governor Thomas Jefferson, with whom he began to study the law in Richmond in the spr