MONROE COUNTY. 431 



and Arthur ; Gen. Henry Lee, and the late Judge Bushrod 

 Washington. Mr. Monroe's ancestors came to this country 

 as early as 1652. He received his education at the college of 

 William and Mary, and subsequently studied law in the office 

 of Mr. Jefferson. At the first breaking out of the revolution- 

 ary war, he entered the army, and encountered all the rigours 

 of the camp. He was with Washington during his retreat 

 through New Jersey, and volunteered to join in the attack on 

 the Hessians at Trenton. At this period he was a Lieutenant 

 in the company of Capt. Washington ; and on the fall of his 

 superior officer, was called upon to assume the command. In 

 the battle of Trenton he was wounded. Upon his recovery, 

 he was invited to act as aid to Lord Stirling, and served with 

 him two campaigns, being present at the battles of Brandy- 

 wine, Germantown, and Monmouth. Washington, confiding 

 in his ability to organize an additional corps, recommended his 

 appointment to the command of a regiment of the Virginia line. 

 He was accordingly promoted to a Colonelcy, but before the re- 

 giment was completed, the war was over. In 1780 Mr. Jefferson 

 intrusted to Mr. Monroe the important office of military com- 

 missioner to the southern army under De Kalb. At the age of 

 24 he was elected to represent his district in Congress. Here he 

 remained for three years, after which he was sent to the Legis- 

 lature of his native State. From 1790 to 1794 he was a mem- 

 ber of the Senate of the United States, from which he was 

 sent as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to 

 France. Upon his return, he was elected Governor of Vir- 

 ginia. Mr. Jefferson, in 1803, sent him again as Minister to 

 France ; and in conjunction with Mr. Livingston, he negotiated 

 the treaty which added Louisiana to the United States. He 

 then went to London as successor to Mr. King ; after which 

 he returned to the United States, and for a short period 

 spent his time at his seat in Virginia. In 1810 he was 

 again elected a member of the Virginia Legislature, and 

 shortly afterwards Governor of the State. At this period he 

 became Secretary of State under President Madison. When 

 the war of 1812 was declared, the War Department was placed 

 under his charge. He was a zealous advocate of that war. 

 In 1817 he was elected President of the UnitedStates, and re- 



