> In 1804, which future U.S. President attended Napoleon Bonaparte’s coronation inParis?And the answer: James Monroe. Photo credit: public domain.While serving as the American ambassador to Britainand France, James Monroe and his wife, Elizabeth, attended Napoleon's coronationat the Notre-Dame Cathedral. During his time in France, Monroe learned thatNapoleon was strapped for cash, and willing to sell the Louisiana Territory tothe United States. Aside from George Washington, James Monroe was the only President to rununopposed for reelection. Yet, he was a man of humble beginnings. Born inVirginia in 1758, Monroe grew up as a farmer with little time to pursue hisstudies. By age 16, both of his parents had passed away, leaving Monroe incharge of the farm and his four siblings. It was at that time that a man namedJoseph Jones took young Monroe and his siblings in. Jones went on to introduceMonroe to political greats such as Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry and GeorgeWashington. In 1776, Monroe quit college to join the Continental Army. After fighting andreceiving substantial injuries in the Battle of Trenton, Monroe became the lastUS President to be a Revolutionary War hero and Founding Father. After the war,Monroe continued his studies before then going on to serve various positions inthe government, such as US Senator, Minister to France, and governor ofVirginia. Monroe was elected to become the 5th President of the United States in1817. During his two terms in office, Monroe created the Monroe Doctrine. Thisdoctrine warned European nations not to interfere or colonize the regions of theWestern Hemisphere which belonged to the United States. The European powers,according to Monroe, were obligated to respect the Western Hemisphere as theUnited States' sphere of interest. Learn more about James Monroe here[https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/james-monroe/].