James Monroe: the record and the legends

Last of the Founding Fathers. The 5th president, 1817-1825, from Virginia. Every story here is tagged Record, meaning it’s documented, or Legend, meaning it gets told a lot and doesn’t hold up. Each one links to its source.

President: 5th
In office: 1817-1825
Home state: Virginia
Party: Democratic-Republican
Height: 6'1"

The record

RecordAt Trenton in 1776, an 18-year-old Monroe led a charge at an enemy cannon. A musket ball tore through his shoulder and nearly killed him, and he carried it there for the rest of his life.Source: Miller Center, Monroe: Life Before the Presidency
RecordIn 1803 Monroe went to Paris to help buy New Orleans, with permission to spend up to $10 million. France offered the whole Louisiana Territory instead, and within days they'd closed the deal at $15 million.Source: National Archives, Louisiana Purchase Treaty (1803)
RecordBefore the Battle of Bladensburg in 1814, Monroe was Secretary of State, and he rode out as a scout anyway. He spotted the British landing in Maryland himself.Source: National Park Service, James Monroe
RecordMonroe was the last of the Founding Fathers to serve as president.Source: Library of Congress, James Monroe: A Resource Guide

The legends

LegendIn the famous painting of Washington crossing the Delaware, the young officer holding the flag is usually said to be Monroe. The painting came 75 years later, the flag it shows didn't exist yet, and Monroe had actually crossed ahead with a small advance party.Source: U.S. Department of State, Washington Crossing the Delaware

What he cared about

Holding the country together. He worked behind the scenes on the Missouri Compromise.
Keeping Europe out of the Americas, which became the Monroe Doctrine in 1823.
Growing the country by deal instead of war: the Louisiana Purchase as an envoy, and Florida from Spain as president.

The full record

Monroe enslaved dozens of people at his Virginia plantation and freed only one. As president he backed sending free Black Americans to Liberia instead of ending slavery at home.

How he fights in POTUS KO

Charged a cannon at 18

Monroe charged a cannon at Trenton and was still riding out to find the enemy himself 38 years later. In the ring he's a brawler who comes straight at you.

See POTUS KO

Questions about James Monroe

Was James Monroe wounded in the Revolutionary War?

At Trenton in 1776, an 18-year-old Monroe led a charge at an enemy cannon. A musket ball tore through his shoulder and nearly killed him, and he carried it there for the rest of his life.

Is James Monroe in the painting of Washington crossing the Delaware?

In the famous painting of Washington crossing the Delaware, the young officer holding the flag is usually said to be Monroe. The painting came 75 years later, the flag it shows didn't exist yet, and Monroe had actually crossed ahead with a small advance party.

Was James Monroe the last Founding Father to be president?

Monroe was the last of the Founding Fathers to serve as president.