James Monroe

On February 14, the latest Presidential $1 Coin honoring James Monroe will be available to the public. Born in 1758 in Westmoreland County, Virginia, James Monroe was the fifth President of the United States (1817–1825).

After graduating from the College of William and Mary in 1776, James Monroe fought in the Revolutionary War, serving with distinction at the Battle of Trenton, where he was shot in his left shoulder. He continued to serve his country as the governor of Virginia (twice), as the 8th United States Secretary of War, and as the 7th United States Secretary of State.

The best-known of Monroe's accomplishments is the fundamental policy that later became known as the Monroe Doctrine. In a message to Congress in 1823, Monroe declared U.S. opposition to European countries attempting to colonize the Americas or interfering in sovereign countries' affairs. In addition, during Monroe's Presidency the United States acquired Florida (1819), and Congress passed the Missouri Compromise bill, granting statehood to Missouri and barring slavery north and west of Missouri forever.

Perhaps less widely known is that in the famous painting of Washington Crossing the Delaware by artist Emanuel Leutze (also depicted on the New Jersey State Quarter), James Monroe is standing behind George Washington, holding the American flag.