- Born April 28th, 1758 in the town of Westmoreland County Virginia
- James Monroe's parents both died when he was in his mid-teens, his father in 1774 and his mother was estimated to have passed some time earlier
- Monroe and his 4 siblings (2 older sisters, and 2 younger brothers) all split the inheritance of money, land and slaves
- In 1774 he attended the college of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia
- He studied law during his time at William and Marry, which gave him an understanding of current laws in the colony and how they were flawed
- Being able to attend school in the biggest political city in the US surely gave James vast exposure to the political life, and being able to form his own political ideas
- His patriotism was seen early on, whilst in college he and some fellow classmates helped raid and loot the arsenal at the Governors palace, after the Royal Governor Dunmore fled from fear of the colonists
- He and his friends escaped with over 200 muskets and 300 swords, which they gave to the Virginia Militia