First Lady of the United States
Category: First Ladies
Start: 1768-06-30 · End: 1830-09-23
Location: United States
Elizabeth Kortright Monroe, wife of the fifth President of the United States, James Monroe, served as First Lady from 1817 to 1825. Born on June 30, 1768, in New York City, Elizabeth's life spanned a period of profound transformation for the nascent American republic, from its revolutionary origins to its consolidation as a significant international power. Her tenure as First Lady was marked by both societal expectation and personal challenges, particularly concerning her delicate health, which significantly shaped the public face of the Monroe administration. Elizabeth's lineage positioned her firmly within the elite circles of colonial and post-Revolutionary War New York. Her father, Lawrence Kortright, was a prosperous merchant and a former captain in the British Army. Her mother was Hannah Aspinwall Kortright. The Kortright family was a prominent and influential fixture in New York society, providing Elizabeth with a refined upbringing that included a strong emphasis on social graces, languages, and cultural exposure. This background would later prove invaluable during her diplomatic sojourns in Europe. Her introduction to James Monroe came in New York City in 1785, while he w…