MONROE, JAMES, fifth president of the United States, was b. in Westmoreland co., Virginia, April 28, 1758. He was descended from a captain Monroe of the army of Charles I., who emigrated, with other cavaliers, to Virginia. James Monroe entered the revolutionary army at the age of 18, as a cadet, and was present at several battles; but having lost his rank in the army by serving as aid-de-camp, he commenced to study law with Jefferson. In 1782 he was elected to the assembly of Virginia, and at the age of 23 to the executive council. Next year he was elected to eongress, where he took an active part in the movements for framing a new constitution. He joined with Patrick Henry and other leading states' rights men in opposing the ratification. He feared the power and encroachment of the federal government. He was afterwards sent by Washington as minister to France, and was received with singular enthusiasm by the revolutionary government. He was, however, soon recalled. for having too decided French sympas thin. In 1199 he was elected governor of Virginia; and in 1803 sent by Jefferson as minister to France, to purchase Louisiana, which vast territory he secu7ed for 15,000, 000 dollars. He was now employed for several years in diplomacy in England and Spain. On the election of Mr. Madison' to the presidency, he was made secretary of state, and also performed the duties of secretary of war. In 1816 his eminent services were rewarded by his being elected president of the United States by the democratic republican party, and he made himself very popular. The acquisition of Florida from
Spain, and the settlement of the vexed question respecting the extension. of slavery by the Missouri compromise, by which, after the reception of Missouri as a slave state, the institution was prohibited above the line of latitude 36° 30', helped to secure his re-elec tion in 1820. His most popular acts, perhaps, were the recognition of the independence of Mexico and the South American republics, and the promulgation of what has since been called the "Monroe doctrine," in which he declared the American policy of neither entangling ourselves in the broils of Europe, nor suffering the powers of the old world to interfere with the affairs of the new," and that "any attempt to extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere would Le- dangerous to-our peace and safety." In 1825. lie 'retired to his teat at Oak Hill, Loudon co., Virginia; but he still continued in the public service. After being twice president, lie acted as justice of the peace, a visitor of the university of Virginia, and member of a state convention; but a profuse generosity and hospitality caused him to be overwhelmed with debt, and he found refuge with his relations in New York, where he died in 1831—like his prede cessors, Adams and Jefferson, on July 4. Ile was an honorable and able statesman, though not a speaker or a man of brilliant talents.