Eliza Monroe Hay , the eldest daughter of James Monroe, America’s fifth president , will finally be laid to rest in Virginia, almost two centuries after her lonely death in France. On Thursday, her remains will be interred at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, reuniting her with her father and other family members, and bringing closure to a long period of neglect and obscurity.
Hay died at the age of 53 in 1840, far from home, and was buried in an unmarked grave in Paris. For many years, few knew of her struggles or her desperate attempts to return to the United States during her final years, highlighting the hardships faced even by those from prominent families.
Eliza Monroe Hay’s letters reveal financial struggles and life in France
Two letters housed in the College of William & Mary archives shed light on Hay’s plight. In her correspondence, she pleaded for assistance, describing her poor health and precarious situation in a foreign country as reported by The New York Post.
“I am now in distress, in ill health, & in a foreign [sic] country,” Hay wrote in 1839, revealing her vulnerability and financial struggles.
Barbara VornDick, a retired teacher and author of Eliza’s True Story: The First Biography of President Monroe’s Eldest Daughter, uncovered the letters. Her research aimed to correct longstanding misconceptions about Hay’s life, which often painted her as a frivolous socialite who abandoned her duties for luxury abroad. Eliza Monroe Hay spent much of her youth in France, where her father had served as a minister under Presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. She even befriended the future queen of Holland during her schooling abroad.
When President Monroe’s wife was frequently unwell, Hay stepped in to assist with official duties, shaping the public image of the first presidential family. Yet, controversy followed her. She reportedly angered political circles by organising a private wedding for her younger sister, Maria, excluding many expected guests, including diplomats and influential politicians. Despite these controversies, Hay devoted much of her life to family. She cared for her parents, supported her husband, and raised her grandchildren after her own daughter Hortensia died young. However, these responsibilities depleted her financial resources, leaving her struggling by 1838.
Eliza Monroe Hay finally returns home after years in France
After James Monroe’s death in 1831, his estate was controlled by Samuel Gouverneur, Hay’s brother-in-law and cousin, who was notorious for gambling and alleged fraud. Hay’s access to her inheritance was blocked, leaving her reliant on precarious family connections and small earnings.
VornDick’s research revealed that during her time in France, Hay was repeatedly deceived and forced to fight for modest support from her father’s estate. Tragically, she died without resolving these disputes, her grave remaining unmarked in Paris’s Père Lachaise Cemetery. Over time, Hay’s gravesite fell into disrepair. By 2018, French authorities warned the James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library that her remains risked exhumation and placement in an ossuary unless action was taken.
Through the Bringing Eliza Home Project, VornDick and collaborators initiated the repatriation process. Their efforts have ensured that Hay will finally rest beside her family in Richmond, honouring her life and legacy. On October 23, 2025, Eliza Monroe Hay will be officially laid to rest at Hollywood Cemetery, finally reunited with her family after almost two centuries of separation.
Also Read | Meet Japan’s ‘Iron Lady’ Sanae Takaichi: First woman Prime Minister facing big political, economic, and regional challenges
Hay died at the age of 53 in 1840, far from home, and was buried in an unmarked grave in Paris. For many years, few knew of her struggles or her desperate attempts to return to the United States during her final years, highlighting the hardships faced even by those from prominent families.
Eliza Monroe Hay’s letters reveal financial struggles and life in France
Two letters housed in the College of William & Mary archives shed light on Hay’s plight. In her correspondence, she pleaded for assistance, describing her poor health and precarious situation in a foreign country as reported by The New York Post.
“I am now in distress, in ill health, & in a foreign [sic] country,” Hay wrote in 1839, revealing her vulnerability and financial struggles.
Barbara VornDick, a retired teacher and author of Eliza’s True Story: The First Biography of President Monroe’s Eldest Daughter, uncovered the letters. Her research aimed to correct longstanding misconceptions about Hay’s life, which often painted her as a frivolous socialite who abandoned her duties for luxury abroad. Eliza Monroe Hay spent much of her youth in France, where her father had served as a minister under Presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. She even befriended the future queen of Holland during her schooling abroad.
When President Monroe’s wife was frequently unwell, Hay stepped in to assist with official duties, shaping the public image of the first presidential family. Yet, controversy followed her. She reportedly angered political circles by organising a private wedding for her younger sister, Maria, excluding many expected guests, including diplomats and influential politicians. Despite these controversies, Hay devoted much of her life to family. She cared for her parents, supported her husband, and raised her grandchildren after her own daughter Hortensia died young. However, these responsibilities depleted her financial resources, leaving her struggling by 1838.
Eliza Monroe Hay finally returns home after years in France
After James Monroe’s death in 1831, his estate was controlled by Samuel Gouverneur, Hay’s brother-in-law and cousin, who was notorious for gambling and alleged fraud. Hay’s access to her inheritance was blocked, leaving her reliant on precarious family connections and small earnings.
VornDick’s research revealed that during her time in France, Hay was repeatedly deceived and forced to fight for modest support from her father’s estate. Tragically, she died without resolving these disputes, her grave remaining unmarked in Paris’s Père Lachaise Cemetery. Over time, Hay’s gravesite fell into disrepair. By 2018, French authorities warned the James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library that her remains risked exhumation and placement in an ossuary unless action was taken.
Through the Bringing Eliza Home Project, VornDick and collaborators initiated the repatriation process. Their efforts have ensured that Hay will finally rest beside her family in Richmond, honouring her life and legacy. On October 23, 2025, Eliza Monroe Hay will be officially laid to rest at Hollywood Cemetery, finally reunited with her family after almost two centuries of separation.
Also Read | Meet Japan’s ‘Iron Lady’ Sanae Takaichi: First woman Prime Minister facing big political, economic, and regional challenges
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