James Monroe’s presidency ended with the inauguration of his successor, John Quincy Adams, on March 4, 1825. While he hoped to enjoy a quiet retirement with his family, he continued in public service as a member of the Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia and a brief tenure as chairman of the Virginia Constitutional Convention in 1829.
Monroe’s final years were marred by difficulty in obtaining reimbursement from the federal government for expenses incurred during his career; the tragic deaths of his wife and son-in-law; and his own failing health. He died on July 4, 1831 at the New York City home of his daughter, Maria Monroe Gouverneur. Decades after his interment in two grave sites in New York, Monroe’s remains were transferred to a tomb in Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia.
For more on the last years of James Monroe, visit these sites:
James Monroe: Life After the Presidency
by Daniel Preston, Editor of the Papers of James Monroe (retired)
Miller Center, University of Virginia
https://www.millercenter.org/president/monroe/life-after-the-presidency
The New York City Death and Burial of President James Monroe
by Scott H. Harris, Executive Director, University of Mary Washington Museums
White House History Quarterly, Issue 69 (2023)