James Madison Facts | James Madison 4th US President
US President: 1809-1817
US Vice President: George Clinton (1809-1812), (Elbridge Gerry 1813-1814)
Political Party: Democratic-Republican
Birth: March 16, 1751 in Port Conway, Virginia Colony
Death: June 28, 1836 June 28, 1836 (aged 85) in Orange, Virginia
Education: Princeton University
James Madison Offices
4th President of the United States (1809 – 1817)
5th United States Secretary of State (1801 – 1809)
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia’s 15th district (1793 – 1797)
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia’s 5th district (1789 – 1793)
Delegate to the Congress of the Confederation from Virginia (1781 – 1783)
James Madison First Family
Spouse: Dolley Payne Todd (m. 1794 – 1836)
Political Party: Democratic-Republican
Children: John Payne Todd (stepson)
Pictures of Dolley Madison from the Library of Congress
Dolley Madison Project
Biographies
Biography from Biography.com
Biography from University of Gronigen
Congressional Biography
Madison: Godfather of the Constitution by Bruce G. Kauffmann
An Introduction to the Life and Papers of James Madison
James Madison Childhood
First, born in 1751, Madison grew up in Orange County, Virginia. He was the oldest of 12 children, seven of whom lived to adulthood. His father, James, was a successful planter and owned more than 3,000 acres of land and dozens of slaves. He was also an influential figure in county affairs.
Second, in 1762 Madison was sent to a boarding school run by Donald Robertson in King and Queen County, Virginia. He returned to his father’s estate in Orange County, Virginia—called Montpelier—five years later. His father had him stay home and receive private tutoring because he was concerned about Madison’s health. He would experience bouts of ill health throughout his life.
After two years, Madison finally went to college in 1769, enrolling at the College of New Jersey—now known as Princeton University. There, Madison studied Latin, Greek, science and philosophy among other subjects. Graduating in 1771, he stayed on a while longer to continue his studies with the school’s president, Reverend John Witherspoon.
Of course, James Madison is known as the Father of the Constitution. Before the Constitutional Convention, Madison spent many hours studying government structures from around the world before coming up with the basic idea of a blended republic.
James Madison was the shortest president. He measured 5’4″ tall and is estimated to have weighed about 100 pounds. Together with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, James Madison authored the Federalist Papers. Madison was also one of the main proponents for the passage of the first ten amendments to the Constitution, known collectively as the Bill of Rights.
Photos
Pictures from the Library of Congress
Images of Madison
Genealogy
James Madison Genealogy
Facts about James Madison
First, during John Adams’ presidency, the Alien and Sedition Acts were passed to curtain certain forms of political speech. In addition, Madison joined forces with Thomas Jefferson to create the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions in opposition to these acts. Also, two foreign trade bills passed during his time in office: the Non-Intercourse Act of 1809 and Macon’s Bill No. 2.
When the British marched on Washington during the War of 1812, they burned many important buildings including the Navy Yards, the unfinished US Congress Building, the Treasury Building, and the White House. Dolley Madison fled the White House taking many treasures with her when the danger of occupation was apparent.
Furthermore, the Hartford Convention was a secret federalist meeting with individuals from Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont who were opposed to Madison’s trade policies and the War of 1812. James Madison was introduced to his wife Dolley by Aaron Burr.
Madison and Burr were Princeton classmates. Madison graduated one year before Burr. A frequent victim of nasty stomach aches, he’d also weather “attacks resembling epilepsy” throughout his life. Then, while in Congress, Madison suggested that the American government ought to guard its oceanic interests by hiring the Portuguese navy for anti-pirate protection instead of constructing one of her own.
Madison—like any good politician—was terrified by the idea that someone might intercept one of his private letters. Also, along with Jefferson and many mutual allies, Madison used complicated encryptions when relaying delicate info.
Among UVA’s original trustees, Madison later served as its second rector (“chairman”) from 1826 to 1836 and bequeathed most of his personal library to the school. Madison didn’t fight in the Revolutionary War. Furthermore, small in stature and sometimes sickly, Madison served briefly in the Virginia militia and then entered politics at a young age.
How did James Madison die?
He died at Montpelier on June 28, 1836 as the last of the Founding Fathers.
Where is James Madison buried?
Finally, he was buried in the Madison Family Cemetery at Montpelier.
James MADISON Biography
MADISON, James, Jr., a Delegate and a Representative from Virginia and 4th President of the United States; born in Port Conway, King George County, Va., March 16, 1751; studied under private tutors and graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) in 1771; member of the committee of safety from Orange County in 1774; delegate in the Williamsburg (Va.) convention of May 1776; member of the First General Assembly of Virginia in 1776 and was unanimously elected a member of the executive council in 1778;
Member of the Continental Congress 1780-1783 and 1787-1788; delegate in the Federal Constitutional Convention at Philadelphia, Pa., in 1787 and signed the Constitution; elected to as an Anti-Administration candidate to the First Congress, Second and Third Congresses and reelected as a Republican to the Fourth Congress (March 4, 1789-March 3, 1797); declined the mission to France, tendered by President Washington in 1794, and also the position of Secretary of State, tendered the same year; again a member of the Virginia Assembly from Orange County in 1799; appointed by President Jefferson as Secretary of State on March 5, 1801; entered upon the duties of that office May 2, 1801, and served until March 4, 1809; elected President of the United States in 1808; reelected in 1812 and served from March 4, 1809, to March 3, 1817; retired to his estate, Montpelier, Orange County, Va.; delegate in the Virginia constitutional convention of 1829; rector of the University of Virginia at Charlottesville and visitor to the College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Va.; died at Montpelier on June 28, 1836; interment in the private cemetery of Montpelier.
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