| Timeline |
| 1758 |
Born 28 April |
| 1774 |
Enters the College of William and Mary |
| 1776 |
Leaves college to take part in the War for Independence |
| 1777 |
Appointed volunteer aide-de-camp to William Alexander (“Lord Stirling“) |
| 1778 |
At Washington’s solicitation, he receives a commission as lieutenant-colonel in a new regiment to be raised in Virginia |
| 1780 |
Begins the study of law under Thomas Jefferson |
| 1782 |
Elected to the Virginia House of Delegates and chosen a member of the governor’s council |
| 1783 |
Serves in the Congress of the Confederation until 1786 |
| 1786 |
Begins the practice of law at Fredericksburg, Virginia; marries Elizabeth Kortwright |
| 1787 |
Chosen a member of the Virginia House of Delegates |
| 1788 |
Is a member of the state convention which ratifies for Virginia the Federal constitution |
| 1790 |
Elected to the United States senate |
| 1794 |
Washington nominates Monroe as minister to France |
| 1796 |
Monroe recalled from France |
| 1797 |
Publishes "A View of the Conduct of the Executive in the Foreign Affairs of the United States" |
| 1799 |
Monroe is chosen governor of Virginia and was twice re-elected, serves until 1802 |
| 1803 |
President Jefferson appoints Monroe envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to France (Louisiana Purchase), and he is commissioned as the regular minister to Great Britain |
| 1804 |
Proceeds to Madrid to assist Pinckney in his acquisition of the Floridas |
| 1807 |
Returns to the United States in December |
| 1810 |
Elected to the Virginia House of Delegates |
| 1811 |
Chosen governor, serves from January to November 1811; resigns to become secretary of state under Madison, a position he holds until March, 1817. |
| 1814 |
Appointed secretary of war |
| 1816 |
Elected president of the United States |
| 1820 |
Re-elected president |
| 1823 |
Presidential message of this December "Monroe Doctrine" |
| 1826 |
Becomes a regent of the university of Virginia |
| 1829 |
Member of the convention called to amend the state constitution |
| 1831 |
Dies 4 July |
