Who Was James Madison?
James Madison was an American statesman, political theorist, and the fourth President of the United States, who served from 1809 to 1817. He is known as the Father of the Constitution for his central role in drafting and ratifying the document.
Examples of his roles include Virginia legislator, Continental Congress delegate, U.S. Representative, Secretary of State, and university rector.
What Are the Key Facts About James Madison?
The table below lists 9 biographical facts about James Madison. Each row names a category, and the second column shows the verified detail.
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | James Madison Jr. |
| Birth date and place | March 16, 1751, Port Conway, Virginia |
| Death date and place | June 28, 1836, Montpelier, Virginia |
| Age at death | 85 years |
| Education | College of New Jersey (now Princeton University), class of 1771 |
| Political party | Democratic-Republican |
| Presidential term | March 4, 1809 to March 4, 1817 |
| Spouse | Dolley Payne Todd Madison (married 1794) |
| Best-known achievements | Principal author of the Virginia Plan, author of the Bill of Rights, co-author of The Federalist Papers |
When and Where Was James Madison Born?
James Madison was born on March 16, 1751, in Port Conway, Virginia. He was the eldest of 12 children of James Madison Sr., a tobacco planter, and Nelly Conway Madison. The family raised him at Montpelier, a plantation in Orange County, Virginia.
What Was James Madison’s Education?
James Madison studied at the College of New Jersey, now Princeton University, and completed his degree in 2 years. He graduated in 1771 and stayed for an additional year of study under university president John Witherspoon.
His studies covered Latin, Greek, Hebrew, philosophy, and political thought. According to the Library of Congress, Madison read widely in history and government, which shaped his later constitutional ideas.
How Did James Madison Begin His Political Career?
James Madison began his political career in 1774 on the Orange County Committee of Safety, and he entered the Virginia Convention in 1776 at age 25. His early roles included 4 positions:
- Served on the Orange County Committee of Safety.
- Represented Orange County at the Virginia Convention of 1776.
- Served in the Virginia House of Delegates.
- Represented Virginia in the Continental Congress from 1780 to 1783 and again from 1786 to 1788.
What Was Madison’s Role in Religious Freedom in Virginia?
Madison helped pass the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom in 1786. The law was written by Thomas Jefferson. Madison wrote the 1785 Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments, which opposed a state tax supporting Christian teachers. [internal link: Thomas Jefferson Biography]
What Did James Madison Do at the Constitutional Convention?
James Madison drafted the Virginia Plan, which became the starting framework for the U.S. Constitution at the 1787 Philadelphia Convention. The convention ran from May 25 to September 17, 1787.
Madison attended nearly every session and kept detailed notes of the debates. Historians use these notes as the main record of the convention, since delegates agreed to keep the proceedings secret.
What Was the Virginia Plan?
The Virginia Plan proposed a national government with 3 branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. It also proposed a legislature with 2 chambers and representation based on state population.
What Is Madison’s Role in the Federalist Papers?
Madison wrote 29 of the 85 essays in The Federalist Papers, according to the Library of Congress. Alexander Hamilton and John Jay co-wrote the series under the pen name Publius in 1787 and 1788. Madison’s most cited essays are Federalist No. 10, which addresses factions, and Federalist No. 51, which addresses the separation of powers.
How Did James Madison Create the Bill of Rights?
James Madison introduced the proposed amendments in the House of Representatives on June 8, 1789, and they became the Bill of Rights. According to the National Archives, Congress sent 12 amendments to the states in 1789, and 10 were ratified on December 15, 1791.
The Bill of Rights protects freedoms including speech, religion, press, assembly, and fair trial.
What Did James Madison Do as Secretary of State?
James Madison served as Secretary of State from 1801 to 1809 under President Thomas Jefferson. His term included 2 major events:
- The Louisiana Purchase in 1803, which acquired about 828,000 square miles from France for $15 million
- The Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison in 1803, which established judicial review
How Did James Madison Become President?
James Madison won the presidential election of 1808 with 122 electoral votes against Charles Cotesworth Pinckney’s 47. He won reelection in 1812 with 128 electoral votes against DeWitt Clinton’s 89, according to the American Presidency Project.
What Happened During the War of 1812?
The War of 1812 began on June 18, 1812, when Congress declared war on Great Britain at Madison’s request. Causes included British trade restrictions, the impressment of American sailors, and conflicts with Native American nations on the frontier.
British forces burned the Capitol and the White House on August 24, 1814. The Treaty of Ghent ended the war on December 24, 1814. The Battle of New Orleans on January 8, 1815 strengthened national confidence after the treaty.
What Other Policies Did Madison Establish as President?
Madison signed the charter of the Second Bank of the United States in April 1816. The charter lasted 20 years. He vetoed the Bonus Bill in 1817, a federal funding bill for roads and canals, because he judged it beyond the powers listed in the Constitution.
Who Was James Madison’s Wife?
James Madison married Dolley Payne Todd on September 15, 1794. Dolley was 26 and Madison was 43. She was a widow with a son, John Payne Todd, whom Madison raised as his stepson.
According to the White House Historical Association, Dolley Madison hosted Washington social events and saved the Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington before the British burned the White House in 1814.
What Was James Madison’s Position on Slavery?
James Madison held enslaved people at Montpelier throughout his life, according to the Montpelier Foundation. He described slavery as a moral wrong in some writings, yet he did not free the people he enslaved.
He served as president of the American Colonization Society from 1833 to 1836. The society supported the resettlement of free Black Americans in Africa.
What Did James Madison Do After His Presidency?
James Madison retired to Montpelier in 1817 and took on 3 public roles in later life:
- Served as a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1829
- Served as rector of the University of Virginia from 1826 until 1836, after Thomas Jefferson’s death
- Edited his convention notes, which were published after his death in 1840
How and When Did James Madison Die?
James Madison died on June 28, 1836, at Montpelier at age 85. He was the last surviving signer of the U.S. Constitution. He was buried in the family cemetery at Montpelier.
What Is the Timeline of James Madison’s Life?
The table below summarizes 10 major dates in James Madison’s biography. Each row names a year and the matching event.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1751 | Born in Port Conway, Virginia |
| 1771 | Graduated from the College of New Jersey |
| 1776 | Elected to the Virginia Convention |
| 1787 | Drafted the Virginia Plan and attended the Constitutional Convention |
| 1788 | Published The Federalist Papers essays |
| 1789 | Introduced the Bill of Rights in Congress |
| 1794 | Married Dolley Payne Todd |
| 1801 | Became Secretary of State |
| 1809 | Became the fourth President |
| 1836 | Died at Montpelier |
What Is James Madison’s Legacy?
James Madison’s legacy includes 3 lasting contributions to American government: the structure of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the principle of separated powers. Researchers at the Miller Center at the University of Virginia describe him as one of the most influential political thinkers among the Founding Fathers.
Madison’s biography connects his early studies at Princeton with his later role as president. [internal link: Fourth President of the United States]
People Also Ask: What Are Common Questions About James Madison’s Biography?
Why is James Madison called the Father of the Constitution?
James Madison is called the Father of the Constitution because he drafted the Virginia Plan and shaped the debates at the 1787 Convention.
How many terms did James Madison serve as president?
James Madison served 2 terms as president, from 1809 to 1817.
What was James Madison known for?
James Madison was known for drafting the Bill of Rights, co-authoring The Federalist Papers, and leading the United States during the War of 1812.
Who was James Madison’s wife?
James Madison’s wife was Dolley Payne Todd Madison, whom he married on September 15, 1794.
How old was James Madison when he died?
James Madison was 85 years old when he died on June 28, 1836.