James Monroe (New York politician)

James Monroe
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(s) Elizabeth Mary Douglas
Children 2
Parents Ann Bell
Andrew Augustine Monroe
Relatives James Monroe (uncle)
Elizabeth Kortright (aunt)
Alma mater United States Military Academy
Military service
Allegiance  United States of America
Service/branch 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.[1]

Early life

James Monroe was born in Albemarle County, Virginia on September 10, 1799. He was born to Ann Bell and Andrew Augustine Monroe (1755–1826). His father the older brother of his namesake and future president, James Monroe (1758–1831). 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.[2] 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.[2]

Career

Military service

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,[3] 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.[4]

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.[5] He was a member of the New York State Assembly (New York Co.) in 1850 and 1852.[3]

Personal life

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

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.[3] He is interred at Trinity Church Cemetery in Manhattan.[3][6]

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 FDR, and Helen Schermerhorn Astor (1855—1893) of the Astor family.[7][8]

References

Notes
  1. 1 2 3 "James Monroe (1799-1870) Family Papers, 1806-1860". scdb.swem.wm.edu. The College of William and Mary. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  2. 1 2 Harry Ammon, James Monroe: The Quest for National Identity (1990), p. 577
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Death of Col. James Monroe.". The New York Times. 10 September 1870. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  4. Career profile
  5. "MONROE, James - Biographical Information". bioguide.congress.gov. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  6. "Funeral Honors to Col. Monroe.". The New York Times. 11 September 1870. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  7. Taylor, Robert Lewis. Along The Way: Two Paths From One Ancestry Xlibris Corporation, 2014
  8. Brogan, Hugh and Mosley, Charles American Presidential Families October 1993, page 568
Sources
New York Assembly
Preceded by
Garret H. Striker
New York State Assembly
New York County, 10th District

1850
Succeeded by
Lebbeus B. Ward
Preceded by
Lebbeus B. Ward
New York State Assembly
New York County, 10th District

1852
Succeeded by
Henry Shaw
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Churchill C. Cambreleng,
Edward Curtis,
Ogden Hoffman,
Ely Moore
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 3rd congressional district

1839 – 1841
with Edward Curtis, Moses H. Grinnell and Ogden Hoffman
Succeeded by
Charles G. Ferris,
John McKeon,
James I. Roosevelt,
Fernando Wood
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