Learn About James Monroe's Young Life

In this video you will learn about how James Monroe grew up, how he got into politics and what his relationship is with the Marquis De Lafayette.

James Monroe was born on April 28, 1758 in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He was one of five children of Spence Monroe and Elizabeth Jones who were both natives of Virginia. When he was 16, James entered the College of William and Mary. In 1774 the colonies were moving even closer to war with Great Britain. Young James was finding it difficult to concentrate on his studies and in 1775, he left college to go to war. He became a lieutenant and during the Battle of Trenton, his captain was wounded and the command was given to him. But shortly after receiving his command, he was too wounded in that battle and while recovering he was named aide-de-camp to Major General Lord Stirling. He fought alongside with George Washington at Valley Forge and in 1779, Monroe was commissioned to lead a militia of Virginia regiment as a lieutenant colonel. His unit was never formed and his military career was at its end. He became an aide to Thomas Jefferson, who at that time was Governor of Virginia. He also became Jefferson’s student in the study of law and with Jefferson’s guidance, he began to see what course his life would take. In 1782, at the age of 24, Monroe was elected to the Virginia State Legislature. He was the youngest member of the Executive Council and in 1783, was elected to the United States Congress that was meeting in New York City. He served in Congress for three years and during this time he became interested in the settlement of “western” lands between the Allegheny Mountains and the Mississippi River. He was chairman of two important expansion committees—one dealt with travel on the Mississippi River and the other involved the government of the western lands. While James was in New York City, server in Congress, he met Elizabeth Kortright, they were married on February 16, 1786 In October of 1786, Monroe resigned from Congress and settled in Fredericksburg, Virginia with his new bride. He was a delegate to the Virginia convention to ratify the new Constitution and was strongly opposed, feeling that it was a threat to fee navigation of the Mississippi. He voted against the constitution, but once it was ratified he accepted the new government without any misgivings. In Monroe’s moved to Albemarle County, Virginia in 1789, their estate, which was caked Ash Lawn, was very near to Jefferson’s estate, Monticello. In 1790, Monroe was elected to a seat in the United States Senate and was named to a full six-year term the following year. In the spring of 1794, Monroe accepted a diplomatic position to France. His job was to help maintain friendly relations with France despite efforts to remain on peaceful terms with France’s enemy, Great Britain. Monroe’s family accompanied him to France where they enjoyed a luxurious lifestyle. Little Eliza attended school with Napoleon’s stepdaughter and French manners and fashions influenced turn her mother. It was while in Paris Elizabeth learned that the revolutionary government imprisoned Madame Lafayette, wife of the Marqui de Lafayette, America’s friend. Elizabeth drove to the prison and found that Madame Lafayette was about to be beheaded. The French Revolutionary Government knew that the young country admired the Lafayettes and so as not to offend the young nation, they released Madame Lafayette. Missis Monroe was credited with saving Madame Lafayette’s life. Monroe was recalled in September 1796 and felt he had been betrayed by his opponents who used him to appease France while they made great concessions to Britain with Jay’s Treaty that the United States had signed in 1794. He remained bitter about it for the rest of his life. Monroe returned home in June 1797 and after two years of retirement from public office, he was elected governor of Virginia, a position that he served from 1799 until 1803. After his friend and mentor, Thomas Jefferson had been elected President in 1800, Monroe was sent back to France to help Robert R. Livingston complete the negotiations to bind New Orleans and West Florida in 1803. The French Emperor, Napoleon I, instead, offered to sell instead the entire Louisiana colony. Although the Americans were not authorized to make such a large purchase, they began negotiations. In April 1803, the Louisiana Purchase was finished and more than doubled the size of the nation. Monroe returned to Virginia politics and once again served in the legislature and was elected Governor for a second time. In 1811, Monroe became President Madison’s Secretary of State and when the War of 1812 was declared, he loyally supported Madison. He served as Secretary of State throughout the war and simultaneously served as Secretary of War for the last part of the war. He was back in uniform at the time of the British attack on Washington and led the Maryland militia in an unsuccessful attempt to hold off the British at Bladensburg. On December 24, 1814, the Treaty of Ghent was signed ending the war. After Madison’s retirement, Monroe was virtually assured of election for two terms as President.