The Eliza Monroe Chapter, Charter Number 355, was organized

February 1, 1987 and named for Elizabeth Kortright Monroe, the

wife of James Monroe, fifth President of the United States. The

late Marie Tapp Black was the Organizing Chapter President.

Elizabeth was born in New York City in 1768 and died in

Loudon Co., Virginia, in 1830. She was the daughter of Lawrence

Kortright, a captain in the British army. Elizabeth married James

Monroe in 1786. Eliza accompanied her husband in his missions

abroad in 1794 and 1803. While James Monroe was the U. S.

minister to France, Eliza helped to obtain the release of Madame

de Lafayette, who was in the LaForce prison awaiting execution.

When James Monroe became President of the United States of

America, Eliza became the First Lady, but mingled little in

society because of her delicate health. She served from March 4,

1817 to March 4, 1825. Elizabeth Monroe was described as

“an elegant and accomplished woman, with a dignity of manner

that peculiarly fitted her for the station.”

The vignette below is copied from the only portrait that was

ever made of Mrs. Monroe, which was done in Paris in 1796

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