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On this day – 1st Lady Elizabeth Monroe was born
June 30, 2022
An event every year that begins at 12:00 am on day 30 of June, repeating indefinitely
On June 30, 1768, First Lady Elizabeth Monroe was born in New York, New York.
While her husband served as minister to France during the French Revolution, Monroe played a critical role in saving the Marquis de Lafayette’s wife from imprisonment. The couple was very popular in France, where Elizabeth was affectionately referred to as “la belle Américaine.” 💐🇫🇷💐
Compared to her popular predecessor Dolley Madison, Monroe was more reticent. She refrained from visiting the wives of government officials and her daughter often hosted White House functions. Though it sparked controversy at the time, it’s now believed she had a good reason for her private manner, as she likely suffered from epilepsy.
Did you know? Monroe’s father, Lawrence Kortright, was a loyalist during the American Revolution. Though he kept a low profile, the once wealthy merchant family was of modest means by the end of the war.
Elizabeth Kortright Monroe, Eben F. Comens after John Vanderlyn, c.1818
