1790 Monroe is elected to U.S. Senate

1794 Washington appoints Monroe as a mister to France.

1803 Monroe helps negotiate the Louisiana Purchase.

1811 Madison appoints Monroe Secretary of State

1816 Monroe is elected President.

1818 General Andrew Jackson invades Spanish Florida and U.S. and Great Briton agree to joint control of the Oregon Territory.

1819 Economic depression strikes the nation.

1820 Missouri Compromise is passed.

1823 The Monroe Doctrine is announced.

1830 Elizabeth Monroe dies.

1831 James Monroe dies.

James Monroe
1817 - 1825
Fifth President

James Monroe was born in Westmoreland, Virginia before the US became a country. He was born on April 28, 1758.

He was one of seven Presidents from Virginia.

James Monroe was an Episcopalian.

Monroe served in the American Revolution. He was wounded during the war.

James Monroe is best remembered for the Monroe Doctrine.

The White House was still being rebuilt when he became president. On January 1, 1818, the president and his wife held a public reception marking the reopening of the White House. The White House was painted white the year Monroe became president.

Monroe was the first President that was inaugurated outdoors.

James Monroe's Vice President was Daniel D. Tompkins (1817-1825).

James Monroe was President during the First Seminole War, 1817-1818

President Monroe was the first President who had been a US Senator.

James Monroe ran unopposed for his second term.(1820)

Monroe's daughter was the first bride in the White House.

The U.S. took over Florida from Spain during his term.

Monroe had several pets while in the White House. He had sheep dogs and a black spaniel that belonged to his granddaughter.

James Monroe was the first president to ride a steamboat.

In the election of 1820, Monroe received every electoral vote but one. A New Hampshire delegate wanted Washington to be the only president elected unanimously.

Liberia is the only foreign country to have its capital, Monrovia named after an American President.

He became president after more than 40 years of public service. Long public service made him a poor man, and in 1830, he was forced to move in with his daughter. He died there on July 4, 1831.

He was the third of five presidents to die on the Fourth of July. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died five years before. Monroe died of heart failure.

James Monroe is buried in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Va. He was 73 years and 67 days old.

Quotes:

"Attacks on me will do no harm, and silent contempt is the best answer to them" April 29, 1808

5th President 1817-1825

Born: Westmorland County, Virginia April 28, 1758

Party: Democratic-Republican

Died: New York, NY July 4, 1851, Age 73

References:

• The Presidents of the United States. 22 September 2004
• Davis, Gibbs and Ilus. David A. Johnson. Wackiest White House Pets. New York: Scholastic Press, October 2004
• James, Barber and Amy Pastan. Smithsonian Presidents and First Ladies. New York: DK Publishing, 2002
• Harnsberger, Caroline Thomas. Treasury of Presidential Quotations. Chicago: Follett Publishing Company, 1964
• Kane, Joseph Natan. Facts about the Presidents from Washington to Johnson. New York: H.W. Wilson Company, 1964.
• National Park Service Web Site on Presidential Trivia: http://www.nps.gov/pub_aff/pres/trivia.htm.

Additional Sources:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents
http://www.historyplace.com/specials/portraits/presidents/index.html
www.freep.com
http://www.umkc.edu/imc/prestriv.htm
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Rhodes/4062/trivia.html
http://www.freep.com/news/inaug/trivia/index.htm
http://www.ipl.org/div/potus/

If you have comments or corrections, please send them to jim@anewadventure.org.