James Monroe was born on April 28, 1758 and died on July 4, 1831. He served as the 5th U.S. president on March 4, 1817 and left office on March 4, 1825. In 1774 at age 16, Monroe entered the college of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. He cut college studies short in 1776 to join the continental army and fight for independence from Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War 1775-83. During the war, Monroe saw action in battles in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. He was wounded at the Battle of Trenton, New Jersey, in 1776, and was with General George Washington (1732-99) which he was also with his troops during the 1777 to 1778 difficult winter. He was friends with Thomas Jefferson who was governor of virginia at that
