Little Known First Ladies: Elizabeth Monroe Quiz

Answer: Dutch

Elizabeth's parents were Lawrence and Hannah who were both of Dutch-Flanders descent. Her father was a merchant who helped found the Chamber of Commerce after he made his fortune. Mrs. Monroe was also related to both President Roosevelts on her mother's side.

Answer: In New York as a member of the Continental Congress

Elizabeth's family was a wealthy one from New York City. Her class status gave her access to many of the prominent people and events of her day. She met James while he was serving in the Continental Congress, despite her father holding somewhat loyalist values.

Answer: Adrienne de Noiolles de Lafayette, the wife of the Marquis de Lafayette

Adrienne de Noiolles de Lafayette was imprisoned during the Reign of Terror for reasons that are not totally understood by historians. Most of the female members of her family had been guillotined and Madame de Lafayette was surely heading there herself until Mrs. Monroe helped her and husband receive American citizenship. Elizabeth and James' visit to Madame de Lafayette in prison was seen as an unofficial act because the U.S. wished to maintain France as an ally but knew that any interference by the U.S. on official terms would be detrimental to that goal.

Answer: Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine had spoken out against the execution of Louis XVI and was arrested. When he was released, Mrs. Monroe had harbored Paine in the house she was living in at the time, likely saving his life as the Reign of Terror had spiraled beyond control at that time.

Answer: Her only son died at two years old and she suffered from seizures

The Monroes had a two-year old named James who died in 1801. Shortly afterward, Mrs. Monroe began having seizures that would hinder her for the remainder of her years.

Answer: Poor, especially when compared to her predecessor

Elizabeth Monroe rarely made public appearances as First Lady since she was often ill and frail. Her predecessor, Dolley Madison, was considered a wonderful and popular First Lady who set high standards for the women who would follow. Mrs. Monroe was unable to live up to these expectations. One of the most glaring examples is that Elizabeth took no interest in choosing new furniture or art for the White House after the building was restored after being burned in the War of 1812, something which Americans considered to be an important task for a First Lady.

Answer: She did not host them as the custom of the time required her to do

Mrs. Monroe was rarely well enough to host guests and parties. This led to chaos among Monroe's cabinet members and the president often held meetings to explain why his wife could not host them as the tradition dictated. The dignitaries considered themselves snubbed and dissatisfaction spread within the Monroe administration.

Answer: Louisa Adams

Louisa Adams was born in England, a place where Elizabeth Monroe had lived for a brief period of time. Both ladies had a flair for European tastes and Mrs. Monroe believed that Louisa, wife of then Secretary of State John Q. Adams, would help improve her image after her failures as First Lady.

This plan backfired when Louisa supported Elizabeth's policies instead of following the precedent set by Dolley Madison. This led to a boycott of most of Monroe's events and those of Louisa's husband, John Quincy, when she became First Lady.

Answer: Historians have almost no knowledge to be sure

There is almost no surviving correspondence between the President and his wife. There are rumors that President Monroe burnt them when Elizabeth died because it was believed, at the time, that her epilepsy was a mental illness and thus the president would have tried to hide that by burning her letters.

Answer: Oak Hill

James Monroe left office in 1825. Elizabeth died from her illnesses five years later and was buried at Oak Hill. However, James died a few months later on July 4, 1831 in New York City when he was visiting his younger daughter. She buried him in New York because of lack of funds to move the president to Virginia.

His body was then moved to Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond twenty-five years later but Elizabeth was not reinterred there until 1903.