President James Madison

Fourth President of 
the United States

US statesman and fourth president (1809--17), born in Port Conway, VA. in 1751.   He studied at the College of New Jersey (Princeton University), and entered politics in 1776. He played a major role in the Constitutional Convention of 1787, becoming known as "the father of the Constitution", and he collaborated in the writing of The Federalist Papers. He was noted for his great intellect.  Elected to the first national Congress, he became a leader of the Jeffersonian Republican Party. He was secretary of state under Jefferson, and president for two terms from 1809. His period in office saw the Napoleonic Wars and the conflict with Britain (the War of 1812).  He died in 1836.

Dolley Madison

First Lady,  born in New Garden, N.C. in 1768.  After her first husband died, she married James Madison in 1794. Extremely popular as first lady, she was a great asset to Madison's political career. In 1814 she saved many state papers and a portrait of George Washington from the advancing British soldiers. In later life she retained a place in Washington society and was granted a lifelong seat on the floor of the House of Representatives.
She died in 1849.