Wife of the fifth President of the United States, James Monroe, and served as the First Lady of the United States from 1817 to 1825. She became friends with Napoleon Bonaparte's family when her husband was the United States Minister to France.
She assisted in the release of Madame LaFayette, wife of Marquis de LaFayette, after hearing of her pending execution.
Although she was respected, many did not like her as much as previous First Lady Dolley Madison.
Born to Lawrence Kortright and Hannah Aspinwall, she married James Monroe in February 1786 while she was 17 and he was 27. The couple had three children together: Eliza, Maria, and James.
Louisa Adams, wife of John Quincy Adams, served as First Lady after her.