Monroe, Elizabeth Kortright (1768-1830), was the wife of James Monroe, who served as president of the United States from 1817 to 1825. Mrs. Monroe, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Kortright, was born in New York City on June 30, 1768. Her father was a well-to-do merchant. Elizabeth was raised in the formal atmosphere of New York City merchant-class society of her time. She learned social graces and was considered a beauty.
Elizabeth Kortright met James Monroe in New York City in 1785. Monroe was in the city, then the nation’s capital, as a Virginia delegate to the Congress of the Confederation. The couple married on Feb. 16, 1786.
The married couple settled in Virginia in 1789. They lived in Paris from 1794 to 1796, when James Monroe was U.S. minister to France. The French admired Elizabeth Monroe because of her social grace and loveliness. They called her la belle Americaine (the beautiful American). The French Revolution had recently taken place, and the rebels were executing members of the upper class. One such person awaiting execution was Adrienne de Lafayette, the wife of Marquis de Lafayette, who had helped the United States during the American Revolution (1775-1783). Mrs. Monroe boldly went to the prison to speak to, and show support for, Adrienne de Lafayette. This action resulted in the release of the prisoner.
The British burned the White House in 1814, during the War of 1812. The structure had not been rebuilt by the time James Monroe became president in 1817. He and his family lived elsewhere in Washington, D.C. On Jan. 1, 1818, the president and Mrs. Monroe held a public reception to celebrate the reopening of the White House. President Monroe favored formality in White House social life, and Elizabeth followed his wishes. For this reason, and also because of poor health, she received only visitors to whom she had sent invitations. At first, many people said Mrs. Monroe was snobbish. But they soon learned she was doing what her husband preferred.
The Monroes had three children—Eliza Kortright, Maria Hester, and a son whose name may have been James Spence. The two daughters lived to adulthood, but James Spence died as an infant. Elizabeth Monroe died on Sept. 23, 1830.
See also Monroe, James .
