James Spence Monroe (1799-1800), the second of the Monroe children, only lived to be 16 months old. His death left the family devastated. He is buried in Richmond.
“I was balancing for some time what I should call him, and among the worthies of our country … I should have thought more of the names of Jefferson & Montgomery than any we boast of. But his mother is an old fashioned woman & chose … to follow the old fashioned track of calling him after his father … ” James Monroe to Janet Montgomery, 1799
“An unhappy event has occurr’d which has overwhelmed us with grief. At ten last night our beloved babe departed this life after several days sickness … I cannot give you an idea of the effect this event has produc’d on my family, or of my own affliction … this has roused me beyond what I thought was possible …” James Monroe to James Madison, 1800
