James Monroe (New York politician)

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.[1]

For the congressman from Ohio, see James Monroe (Ohio politician).
James Monroe
Member of the New York State Assembly from the 10th District
In office
January 1, 1852 – December 31, 1852
Preceded byLebbeus B. Ward
Succeeded byHenry Shaw
In office
January 1, 1850 – December 31, 1850
Preceded byGarret H. Striker
Succeeded byLebbeus 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 byChurchill C. Cambreleng, Edward Curtis, Ogden Hoffman, Ely Moore
Succeeded byCharles G. Ferris, Fernando Wood, James I. Roosevelt, John McKeon
Personal details
Born(1799-09-10)September 10, 1799
Albemarle County, Virginia
DiedSeptember 7, 1870(1870-09-07) (aged 70)
Orange, New Jersey
Political partyWhig
SpouseElizabeth Mary Douglas
Children2
Parent(s)Ann Bell
Andrew Augustine Monroe
RelativesJames Monroe (uncle)
Elizabeth Kortright (aunt-in-law)
Alma materUnited States Military Academy
Military service
Allegiance United States of America
Branch/service4th Artillery Regiment
Years of service1815-1822, 1832-1832
RankFirst lieutenant
Battles/warsSecond Barbary War:
 • Battle off Cape Gata
Black Hawk War

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 (1755–1826). His father was the older brother of his namesake and future president, James Monroe (1758–1831).[2]

His paternal grandfather, Spence Monroe (1727–1774), was a moderately prosperous planter who also practiced carpentry. His grandmother Elizabeth Jones (1730–1774) Monroe in 1752 and they had several children.[3] 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.[3]

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,[4] 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.[5]

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.[6] He was a member of the New York State Assembly (New York Co.) in 1850 and 1852.[4]

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.[1]
  • William D. Monroe[1]
  • Frances "Fanny" Monroe (1824–1906), who married Douglas Robinson Sr. (1824–1893)

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.[4] He is interred at Trinity Church Cemetery in Manhattan.[4][7]

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.[8][9]

References
  1. "James Monroe (1799-1870) Family Papers, 1806-1860". scdb.swem.wm.edu. The College of William and Mary. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  2. Ammon, Harry. "James Monroe" in Henry F. Graff ed., The Presidents: A Reference History (1997).
  3. Harry Ammon, James Monroe: The Quest for National Identity (1990), p. 577
  4. "Death of Col. James Monroe". The New York Times. 10 September 1870. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  5. Career profile
  6. "MONROE, James - Biographical Information". bioguide.congress.gov. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  7. "Funeral Honors to Col. Monroe". The New York Times. 11 September 1870. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  8. Taylor, Robert Lewis. Along The Way: Two Paths From One Ancestry Xlibris Corporation, 2014
  9. Brogan, Hugh and Mosley, Charles American Presidential Families October 1993, page 568
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