Elizabeth Kortright Monroe, wife of James Monroe, fifth president of the United States, died September 23, 1830. She was 62.

Mrs. Monroe was born Elizabeth Kortright on June 30, 1768 in New York City. The daughter of a wealthy merchant family, she grew up in elegance and took part in high society events as a teenager.

At one of these social events, Elizabeth met James Monroe in 1785. He was a Virginia delegate to the Continental Congress. They married on February 16, 1786. The couple had three children.

Her husband became a United States Senator from Virginia in 1790, and in 1794 the Monroes went to France where husband James served in the diplomatic service.

While in Paris, the wife of Revolutionary War hero, the Marquis de Lafayette, was in prison awaiting execution by French revolutionaries who were murdering upper class citizens. Mrs. Monroe intervened and Adrienne de Lafayette was released.

A very popular lady, Elizabeth Monroe was called la belle Americaine (the beautiful American) by the French people.

By the time her husband was elected president in 1816, Elizabeth Monroe’s health had begun to decline. They lived for a short time in another Washington home while the White House was being repaired due to damage in the War of 1812.

After moving into the White House, Mrs. Monroe limited her social activities, something which brought her criticism from official Washington society figures. But there were happy moments as well. In 1820, daughter Maria became the first president’s daughter to be married in the White House.

Despite her lack of social graces, Elizabeth Monroe was considered a First Lady who brought style and elegance to the White House. She was deemed as one of the best-dressed women of the age. She wore the latest French fashions, and served French food and wine at state dinners and social gatherings.

After President Monroe’s second term ended in 1825, he and his wife returned to their Virginia home where she died on September 23, 1830. She is buried in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia, next to her husband who died less than a year later.