Note Type
Historical NoteNote
James Monroe (1758-1831) served as ambassador to France in 1794-96, then as special envoy to negotiate the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, and later as Secretary of State for most of the Madison administration. Monroe's presidency (1817-25) has been characterized as the Era of Good Feeling, due in part to his balanced approach to appointments and political decisions. Eliza Monroe Hay (1786-1840) spent much of her childhood in Paris, where she was well educated. During her father's presidency she often assumed the role of honorary First Lady, as her mother was frequently in poor health. Benjamin Rush (1745-1813) was a true Renaissance man: Surgeon General of the Continental Army, active member of the Sons of Liberty and signer of the Declaration of Independence, civic leader in Philadelphia, professor of chemistry, medical theory, and clinical practice at the University of Pennsylvania, treasurer of the U.S. Mint, and founder of Dickinson College. He oversaw medical outfitting for the Lewis & Clark expedition, and published one of the first descriptions and treatments for psychiatric disorders in American medicine. Philip Syng Physick (1768-1837) set up his first practice in Philadelphia in 1792 with the help of Rush. He was elected the first professor of surgery at the University of Pennsylvania and was later chair of anatomy. Physick focused on developing solutions through practical experience, and in the process became known as the "Father of American Surgery. The exact nature of Eliza Monroe's Hay illness is unknown, but her father was certainly endeavoring to put her care in excellent hands