James Monroe (New York politician)

For the congressman from Ohio, see James Monroe Jr. (Ohio politician).

James Monroe Jr.
Member of the New York State Assembly from the 10th District
In office January 1, 1852 – December 31, 1852
Preceded by	Lebbeus B. Ward
Succeeded by	Henry Shaw
In office January 1, 1850 – December 31, 1850
Preceded by	Garret H. Striker
Succeeded by	Lebbeus B. Ward
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 3rd district
In office March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1841
Preceded by	Churchill C. Cambreleng, Edward Curtis, Ogden Hoffman, Ely Moore
Succeeded by	Charles G. Ferris, Fernando Wood, James I. Roosevelt, John McKeon
Personal details
Born	(1799-09-10)September 10, 1799 Albemarle County, Virginia
Died	September 7, 1870(1870-09-07) (aged 70) Orange, New Jersey
Political party	Whig
Spouse	Elizabeth Mary Douglas
Children	2
Parent(s)	Ann Bell Andrew Augustine Monroe
Relatives	James Monroe (uncle) Elizabeth Kortright (aunt-in-law)
Alma mater	United States Military Academy
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch/service	4th Artillery Regiment
Years of service	1815-1822, 1832-1832
Rank	First lieutenant
Battles/wars	Second Barbary War:  • Battle off Cape Gata Black Hawk War

James Monroe (September 10, 1799 – September 7, 1870) was an American politician who served as the United States representative from New York (1839–1841). He was the nephew of President James Monroe.

Early life

James Monroe was born in Albemarle County, Virginia on September 10, 1799. He was born to Ann (née Bell) Monroe and Andrew Augustine Monroe (ca. 1764-1826). Andrew Monroe was a younger brother of President James Monroe (1758–1831).

Monroe's paternal grandfather, Spence Monroe (1727–1774), was a moderately prosperous planter who also practiced carpentry. His grandmother Elizabeth Jones (1730–1774) Monroe married Spence Monroe in 1752, and they had five surviving children, Elizabeth, James Monroe, Spence, Andrew, and Joseph. His paternal 2x-great grandfather, Patrick Andrew Monroe, emigrated to America from Scotland in the mid-17th century. In 1650, he patented a large tract of land in Washington Parish, Westmoreland County, Virginia. Among James Monroe's ancestors were French Huguenot immigrants, who came to Virginia in 1700.

Career

Monroe graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1815, and was commissioned in the Artillery Corps. Shortly after graduating, he was sent to fight in the war with Algiers, and was wounded while serving as a gunnery officer on board the USS Guerriere. From 1817 to 1822, he served as aide-de-camp to General Winfield Scott, receiving a promotion to first lieutenant in December 1818. Upon the re-organization of the US Army in 1821, he was assigned to the 4th Artillery Regiment. In June 1832, he was again appointed as General Scott's aide for the Black Hawk War, but shortly afterward contracted cholera. He resigned his commission on September 30, 1832, and moved to New York City.

Political career

Monroe served as assistant alderman of New York City in 1832, alderman 1833–1835, and president of the board of aldermen in 1834. He was elected as a Whig to the 26th United States Congress, holding office from March 4, 1839, to March 3, 1841. He was a member of the New York State Assembly (New York Co.) in 1850 and 1852.

Personal life

He married Elizabeth "Eliza" Mary Douglas (1799–1852), daughter of George Douglas (1741–1799) and Margaret Corne (1767–1827). Together, they were the parents of::

• George Monroe, who entered the seminary.
• William D. Monroe
• Frances "Fanny" Monroe (1824–1906), who married Douglas Robinson Sr. (1824–1893)
• Elizabeth Mary Monroe (c.1833–1857), who married Solomon Betts Davies (1827–1860)

Following his wife's death, he retired from public life to Orange, New Jersey, where he died on September 7, 1870, at age of 70, days before his 71st birthday. He is interred at Trinity Church Cemetery in Manhattan.

Descendants

Monroe's grandson, Douglas Robinson Jr. (1855–1918), married Corinne Roosevelt (1861–1933), the younger sister of President Theodore Roosevelt and an aunt of First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt. Their children, and Monroe's great-grandchildren include Connecticut Representative Corinne Douglas Robinson (1886–1971) and New York State Senator Theodore Douglas Robinson (1883–1934), who married his distant cousin Helen Rebecca Roosevelt, daughter of James Roosevelt (1854—1927), the brother of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and Helen Schermerhorn Astor (1855—1893) of the Astor family.

External links

• United States Congress. "James Monroe (id: M000856)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• James Monroe at Find a Grave
• James Monroe Archived 2008-10-30 at the Wayback Machine