James Monroe (New York politician) James Monroe (New York politician) James Monroe (September 10, 1799 – September 7, 1870) was an American politician who served as the United States Representative from New York (1839–1841). He was the nephew of President James Monroe. James Monroe was born in Albemarle County, Virginia on September 10, 1799. He was born to Ann Bell and Andrew Augustine Monroe (1755–1826). His father the older brother of his namesake and future president, James Monroe (1758–1831). His paternal grandfather, Spence Monroe (1727–1774), was a moderately prosperous planter who also practiced carpentry. His grandmother Elizabeth Jones (1730–1774) Monroe in 1752 and they had
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.