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Elizabeth Monroe Facts & Worksheets

Elizabeth Monroe was the First Lady of the United States from 1817 to 1825. She was the wife of the fifth president of the United States, James Monroe.

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Elizabeth Monroe was the First Lady of the United States from 1817 to 1825. She was the wife of the fifth president of the United States, James Monroe. Due to Elizabeth Monroe’s health issues, several duties of the official White House Hostess were done by Eliza Monroe Hay, her eldest daughter.

See the fact file below for more information on the Elizabeth Monroe or alternatively, you can download our 21-page Elizabeth Monroe worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Elizabeth’s maiden name was Elizabeth Jane Kortright.
  • She was born on June 30, 1768, at New York City, New York, British America.
  • She died at the age of 62, on September 23, 1830 in Oak Hill, Virginia, U.S.
  • Elizabeth Jane Kortright married James Monroe in 1786.
  • They had three children. Eliza Monroe was the eldest.

FAMILY

  • Elizabeth’s father was Lawrence Kortright.
  • He was born on November 27, 1928.
  • He worked as a merchant in New York.
  • He died in September of 1794.
  • He was one of the founders of the New York Chamber of Commerce.
  • Elizabeth’s mother was Hannah Aspinwall.
  • She was born around 1729-1730 in New York City.
  • She married Lawrence on May 6, 1755, at Trinity Church, New York.
    She died in 1777.
  • Elizabeth Monroe had four siblings, consisting of three sisters and a brother.
  • The birth order of Elizabeth’s siblings are unknown; they were Hester Kortright Gouverneur, Mary Kortright Knox, Sarah Kortright Heyliger, and John Kortright.

EARLY LIFE AND EARLY TRAGEDIES

  • Elizabeth was raised by her paternal grandmother to be an elegant and elite child.
  • Her grandmother taught her social graces.
  • However, there are no known records of Elizabeth’s educational background.
  • Hannah, Elizabeth’s mother, died due to puerperal infections or Child Bed, a bacterial infection that could be acquired after childbirth.
  • Various sources indicate that Elizabeth’s mother died on September 6 or 7, 1777.
  • Hannah was 39 at the time of her death.
  • Subsequently, an unnamed sibling of Elizabeth, 13 months of age, died due to fever, and was buried beside Hannah.
  • These tragic events happened when Elizabeth was only nine years old.
  • After Hannah’s death, Lawrence never remarried.
  • Their home was almost destroyed by fire on August 3, 1778, as a blaze happened to destroy fifty homes in lower Manhattan.
  • The fire resulted from a mismanagement of the British troops while directing the firefighters.
  • Fortunately, the Kortright family survived the fire.

ELIZABETH AND JAMES

  • Elizabeth and James met in New York, 1785.
  • James Monroe was serving as a member of the Continental Congress when he met Elizabeth.
  • Elizabeth was only seventeen when she married James, who was 26 at the time. They wed on February 16, 1786.
  • The wedding ceremony was performed by Reverend Benjamin Moore, in Trinity Church, New York.
  • Elizabeth and James honeymooned on Long Island, and returned to New York after.
  • Elizabeth lived with her father until Congress adjourned.

LIFE AFTER MARRIAGE

  • Monroe was elected to the Senate in 1790; he had to move to the new temporary capital city of Philadelphia.
  • While James was in Philadelphia, Elizabeth spent most of her time with her sisters in New York.
  • Monroe was assigned as U.S. Minister to France, so the Monroe family relocated to Paris. Elizabeth thrived and became fond of the place.
  • Elizabeth made a name during the later days of the French Revolution, as she visited Adrienne de Noailles de Lafayette, a political prisoner at the time.
  • Adrienne was the wife of Marquis de Lafayette, a great personal friend of George Washington. He was France’s most prominent supporter of American independence.
  • The Monroes had to return to Virginia after hosting the freed Thomas Paine.
  • James Monroe became Governor of Virginia from 1799 until 1803.
  • Elizabeth commuted between Richmond and Charlottesville.
  • It was this time that she developed health problems.
  • James Monroe was sent to France during the Jefferson Administration, so Elizabeth managed to return to Europe from 1803 to 1807; her family lived alternatingly in London and Paris.
  • James Monroe served as Secretary of State from 1811 until 1817, and moved with Elizabeth in Washington, D.C.

AS FIRST LADY

  • Elizabeth Monroe officially became the First Lady on March 4, 1817, as James Monroe commenced his first term of presidency.
  • The inaugural ball happened at Monroe’s private residence on I Street, as the White House underwent reconstruction at the time.
  • James Monroe was re-elected to his second term in 1820. Elizabeth hosted the inaugural ball in Brown’s Hotel.
  • Elizabeth remained in this position until March 4, 1825.

DEATH

  • After the Monroe Administration, Elizabeth suffered from poor health as her activities centered on her family.
  • The Monroes retired to their plantation estate in London County, Virginia.
  • Elizabeth died on September 23, 1830, due to health complications.
    She was buried at Oak Hill estate.

Elizabeth Monroe Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Elizabeth Monroe across 21 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Elizabeth Monroe worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Elizabeth Monroe who was the First Lady of the United States from 1817 to 1825. She was the wife of the fifth president of the United States, James Monroe. Due to Elizabeth Monroe’s health issues, several duties of the official White House Hostess were done by Eliza Monroe Hay, her eldest daughter.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Elizabeth Monroe Facts
  • Fact Sheet
  • New York, New York
  • Biography
  • President Monroe
  • A Love Song
  • Important Events
  • As First Lady
  • True or False
  • Mother and Child
  • Health Commitment

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Use With Any Curriculum

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