Rick Britton is a Charlottesville-based author, lecturer, and cartographer. An award-winning historian, Rick also organizes history-related lecture classes in conjunction with the Charlottesville Senior Center.
On October 11, 2011, Fifth President James Monroe – in the flesh! – presented the final lecture in a new series entitled “Virginia History 201: Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe, A Dynasty of Friends.” Monroe, of course, passed away in 1831 (on the Fourth of July), but historical interpreter extraordinaire Dennis Bigelow – in his period clothing, and possessed of a fascinating amount of historical detail – is the personification of our fifth president. (A Vietnam veteran and well-trained thespian, Mr. Bigelow portrays James Monroe for Ash-Lawn Highland, the president’s restored “cabin castle.”) Listen and learn about Monroe’s amazing political career.
This is the final part of our five part series. Click here listen all five parts of this series.