Born: April 28, 1758, in Westmoreland County, Virginia

Died: July 4, 1831, in New York City

First Lady: Elizabeth Kortright Monroe

Political Party: Democratic-Republican

Presidential Term: March 4, 1817 to March 3, 1825

Famous Quote: “The American continents … are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers.”

Timeline

1776-1780 Fought in the Revolution, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel

1780 Named military commissioner of Virginia by Thomas Jefferson

1782-1783 Served in the Virginia Assembly

1783-1786 Member of the Continental Congress

1786-1790 Served in the Virginia Assembly

1786 Married Elizabeth Kortright

1790-1794 U.S. senator from Virginia

1794-1796 U.S. minister to France

1799-1802 Governor of Virginia

1803 Negotiated the Louisiana Purchase

1803-1807 U.S. minister to Great Britain

1811-1817 Secretary of state under President Madison

1814-1815 Secretary of war

1817-1815 Fifth president of the United States

1817 Mississippi admitted to the Union

1818 Illinois admitted to the Union

1819 Alabama admitted to the Union

1820 Maine admitted to the Union

1821 Missouri admitted to the Union

1829 Chairman, with James Madison, of the Virginia state constitutional convention