Library of Congress
- NAME – James Monroe
- NICKNAME(S) – The Last of the Cocked Hats (for his old fashioned clothing)
- BIRTH / DEATH – April 28, 1758 Westmoreland County, Va. / 1831 – NYC
- FATHER – carpenter, farmer
- MOTHER – housewife
- COLLEGE – William and Mary
- WIFE – Elizabeth
- KIDS – two girls, one boy (died in infancy)
- PETS – Siberian Husky (Sebastian)
- RELIGION – Episcopalian
- ANCESTRY – Scotch
- AGE – 58
FIRSTS:
– first President to ride in a steamboat
– first President whose inauguration was outdoors
– first President who had been a Senator
– first President to have a daughter buried in the White House
MA AND PA: Father died when he was 16.
BACKGROUND:
– fought in the Revolutionary War
– Continental Congress 1789
– Senator 1790-94
– Ambassador to France 1794-96
– Governor of Va. 1799-1802
– Minister to France and England 1803-08
– Secretary of State to Madison 1811-17 / Secretary of War 1814-15
– President 1817-1825
FIRST LADY: Elizabeth was the daughter of a wealthy merchant. While with her husband in France, she helped arrange the release of Lafayette’s wife and children from imprisonment during the Revolution. As First Lady, she insisted the staff call her “Your Majesty”.
RETIREMENT: He retired to his plantation called Ash Lawn, but he had fallen into debt and lived only comfortably on his pension. He died in 1830 and Elizabeth followed a year later.
TRIVIA:
– favorite food – spoon bread (like bread pudding)