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Discover the Intriguing World of James Monroe: Top 5 Fun Facts You Never Knew!

illustration of james-monroe
Dive into the fascinating world of James Monroe, America's most underrated founding father, and discover an array of quirky tidbits that go beyond his famed Doctrine.

1. Real-Estate Mogul Monroe

Although James Monroe preferred baguettes and the Parisian lifestyle, Louisiana Creole couldn't escape his charms as he channeled his inner real-estate mogul: Monroe played a key role in negotiating the Louisiana Purchase as minister to France under President Jefferson, was the first U.S. senator to become president, and even had Liberia's capital named after him, Monrovia. However, his later years saw him in financial distress, forcing him to sell his Virginia estate and move in with his daughter in New York City, where he died at 73.
Source => politico.com

2. Horse-Jockey President

While James Monroe didn't quite qualify for the Triple Crown, he was quite the "jockey" of political races: Monroe was an avid horseback rider and frequently de-stressed by riding his horse, aptly named "Veto", around Washington D.C., while also raising thoroughbred horses on his family estate in Virginia.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

3. Steamboat Pioneer

Ahoy, steamboat captain! President James Monroe was ready to sail to the future and swap his horse for a steam-powered ride: In 1817, Monroe became the first US President to travel on a steamboat, signaling a transformative era in American transportation, commerce, and industry.
Source => millercenter.org

4. Superman of the Western Hemisphere

Step aside, fictional superman Clark Kent – there's a new sheriff in town ready to protect the Western Hemisphere with a document of steel! Meet our cape-less hero, James Monroe: the President who proclaimed the Monroe Doctrine in 1823, a pivotal policy that deterred European powers from interfering in the affairs of the Americas and was even invoked during the Mexican Revolution and Cuban Missile Crisis.
Source => archives.gov

Monrovia's Namesake

5. Monrovia's Namesake

Ever tried finding your Liberian doppelgänger in Monrovia? Well, it's not named after a friendly Marilyn, but a pivotal founding father: James Monroe played an essential role in establishing Liberia, the world's second black republic after Haiti, and as a result, its capital city was named Monrovia in his honor. Nevertheless, Monroe wasn't the sole president with such a claim to fame—Washington D.C. and Jefferson City, Missouri also share this presidential naming legacy.
Source => 2001-2009.state.gov

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