My Name is James Monroe: Soldier, Statesman, and Fifth President of the U.S. My life was shaped by revolution, sacrifice, and a lifelong belief that the United States must grow strong enough to stand independent among the nations of the world.   Early Life in Colonial Virginia I was born in 1758 in Westmoreland County, Virginia, into a modest planter family. My childhood was shaped by frontier realities rather than luxury. After the death of my father, I inherited responsibil