George Washington

Presidency

What future president did Washington remove from a government appointment?

Washington removed future president James Monroe from his position as minister to France in 1796. Monroe had resigned from the U.S. Senate in 1794 to accept the appointment. Initially, Monroe seemed to succeed in his position, even obtaining the release of famed writer Thomas Paine from a prison in France. However, Monroe ran afoul of Washington for his ardent opposition to the Jay Treaty.