ExclusiveElizabeth Monroe_ The First Lady Who Saved a Life

As the wife of James Madison, and even the First Lady at times for his predecessor, Thomas Jefferson, Dolly Madison made an indelible mark on the White House and government in Washington. She was so beloved, so welcoming, so open, that it was very hard for anyone to follow her. Now, James Monroe, the fifth president, is not nearly as well-known as James Madison, but he was very popular. His wife had a bit more of a struggle as the First Lady, so let's delve into what her life was like. Her ancestors were Dutch immigrants who had come to the United States when it was still called New Amsterdam. She was born in New York. Her father, interestingly, had loyalist tendencies. He was not in support of leaving the United Kingdom. So it was ironic that she would end up marrying one of the fighters for freedom who was involved in the Revolutionary War. James Monroe referred to his father as having been given ill fortune by the changing political times. But still, she did have a lot more money than young James Madison did at the time. She was 17 when they were married, and he was 27. Although she wasn't what you could consider a good match politically for him, it was a love match, and he cared very deeply for her. They had three children during their marriage. Two daughters, both of whom lived to adulthood, and a son who died when he was only a few years old. Their oldest daughter was Eliza Monroe, and she would serve as First Lady, helping her mother sometimes, because Elizabeth was known to suffer from frequent bouts of illness. Some believe that she had epilepsy. Their other daughter, Maria, would be the first person to get married in the White House when she was wed there in 1820. Before going to the White House, Elizabeth Monroe had served as the First Lady in other capacities, such as when he was the governor of Virginia. She also had served as an important confidante and support when he was an ambassador. James Monroe was the ambassador to France during the Reign of Terror, after the French Revolution. While they were there in France, Elizabeth Monroe played a very important role. You see, they were good friends with the Marquis de Lafayette. He was an important French general who had helped the United States greatly during the Revolutionary War. But he needed some help after the French Revolution. Many of his relatives had been guillotined, and his wife, Madame Lafayette, was imprisoned and was soon to face the same fate. Now, hearing about this, Elizabeth Monroe took it upon herself to go in her carriage with only a few servants and visit Madame Lafayette.