Second inauguration of James Monroe Second inauguration of James Monroe The second inauguration of James Monroe as President of the United States was held on Monday, March 5, 1821, in the House chamber of the U.S. Capitol. The inauguration marked the commencement of the second four-year term of James Monroe as President and Daniel D. Tompkins as Vice President. Monroe was sworn in by John Marshall, the Chief Justice of the United States. Because of a snowstorm, the inauguration was held indoors; also, because March 4, 1821, was a Sunday, James Monroe moved the inauguration to the following day after talking with justices of the
James Monroe of Virginia and rose to national prominence as a diplomat in France when he helped negotiate the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. During the War of 1812, Monroe served in critical roles as Secretary of State and the Secretary of War under President James Madison. Facing little opposition from the waning Federalist Party, Monroe was easily elected president in 1816, winning over eighty percent against Rufus King (who hadn't even been chosen by a convention since the Federalists were too weak to organize) of the electoral vote and becoming the last president during the First Party System era of American politics.