JAMES, a President of the United States, was descended from a Scottish family, and was born in Westmoreland county, Virginia, in April 1758. After receiving his education at William and Mary College, he entered the revolutionary army in 1776, was engaged in several battles, and rose to be aide-de-camp to Lord Stirling, with the rank of major. Towards the close of the war General Washington conferred upon him the rank of colonel; but as he was unable to raise an army in Virginia, already exhausted by former conscriptions, he devoted himself to the study of law. His sagacity, firmness of purpose, and plodding perseverance soon marked him out as one adapted for civil offices. He was elected a member of the Assembly of his native state in 1782, a member of the old Congress in 1783, a member of the Virginia Convention in 1788, and a senator of the United States in 1790. In 1794 he was appointed minister plenipotentiary to France; but as his measures failed in satisfying the government of his native country, he was recalled in 1795 by President Washington, with an implied censure. Yet this circumstance did not degrade him in the general estimation. In 1799 he was nominated governor of Virginia, an office which he held for three years. He was also appointed minister extraordinary to France, and minister to London in 1803, and envoy to Spain in the following year. In 1806 he was again sent to England to negotiate with the Fox ministry. The important post of secretary of state was bestowed upon him in 1811; and in 1817 he succeeded James Madison as President of the United States. In 1821 he was re-elected by an almost unanimous vote. The government of Monroe was characterized by a vigorous and enlightened patriotism. His attention to the improvement of the army and navy was great, and descended to minute particulars. He made vigorous exertions for the abolition of the slave trade, and encouraged the establishment of the principles of free commerce with all nations. His resolution to defend the independent South American governments against all European interference was bold and at the same time sagacious, and it served its purpose. At the end of his second term Monroe retired from the presidency into private life. He died at New York on the 4th July 1831.