First Lovebirds: James and Dolly Madison
James Madison had a life partner and a political ally in his energetic and personable wife Dolly. Over two inches taller than her husband (Nicole Kidman could relate), Dolly no doubt was attracted to James Madison for his brilliant mind, like much of the nation.
Dolley Madison was born on May 20, 1768 in Guilford County, North Carolina. Her father was John Payne, a planter who emancipated his slaves and moved to Philadelphia in 1783. Dolley's mother was Mary Coles Payne. After her husband's death in 1792, Mary Payne briefly opened their home to boarders, including Congressman Aaron Burr of New York. Several years later, Burr introduced the widowed Dolley Todd to Congressman James Madison of Virginia.
James Madison was not her first husband. When Dolley was 21 years old, in January of 1790, she married lawyer John Todd in Philadelphia. Todd died in a yellow fever epidemic, in October of 1793. The following year she married James Madison on September 15, 1794. Following their wedding, they lived in Madison's elegant three-story Spruce Street brick house until 1797, when they moved to the Madison family plantation, "Montpelier," in Orange, Virginia.
Dolley had two sons from her first marriage: John Payne Todd and William Isaac Todd. William died at the age of three in the same day as his father. She had no children with James Madison. Following her second marriage and move to Madison's Virginia estate, Dolley Madison assumed household management of the plantation and slaves, and also cared for her elderly mother-in-law who lived there. James Madison served as Secretary of State in the Administration of his friend, President Thomas Jefferson, from 1801 to 1809, and the Madisons moved to Washington, D.C. At those receptions and dinners which the widowed Jefferson felt necessitated a hostess, he asked Dolley Madison to aide him. She also took a large public role in the fundraising effort that supported the exploration of the Louisiana Territory by explorers Lewis and Clark. Dolley Madison's popularity as a hostess in Washington helped with recognition of her husband by those members of congress whose electoral votes then chose the winner of presidential races. During the 1808 election, however, there were false articles Federalist newspapers in Baltimore and Boston that implied that Dolley Madison had been intimate with President Jefferson. This proved not to be a factor in the outcome of the election.
In preparation for the inaugural ceremonies of James Madison on March 4, 1809, Captain Tom Tingey, commandant of the Washington Navy Yard, had requested Dolley Madison's permission and sponsorship of a dance and dinner, to which she agreed. This became the first presidential "inaugural ball". It was held at Long's Hotel, on Capitol Hill, with four hundred guests in attendance. The event began at 7 p.m., opening with the playing of "Jefferson's March," followed by the entrance of the former President. Next, "Madison's March," was played and the new president and his wife entered.
Dolley Madison was a very active first lady. She would steer conversation with political figures, including their spouses, in order to gain information on issues facing the Madison Administration. She would try to lobby them for her husband. She redecorated the public rooms in a style grand enough to impress foreign diplomats and dressed in a regal, yet simple manner. She sometimes sought to place supporters, friends and family members into official government positions.
Dolly Madison is best known for what she did in the hours preceding the burning of Washington by British troops during the War of 1812. She famously refused to leave the White House before being assured that the large portrait of George Washington was removed from the walls and taken safely away from potential destruction or defacing by the approaching enemy.
Dolley Madison is credited with convincing the President to permit Washingtonian Francis Scott Key to board a ship in an effort to seek the freedom of a captured friend, and that when he did so, he witnessed the firing on Fort McHenry and wrote the poem which became the Star Spangled Banner.
After Madison left office, the family faced a vast debt accumulated by her irresponsible son John. James Madison died in 1836 and Dolley was forced to sell their Virginia properties, including her home, the plantation Montpelier. In 1844, she returned permanently to Washington, D.C., living across from the White House. She was in a state of near-poverty that was alleviated somewhat when Congress agreed to purchase part of her husband's papers. She was also awarded an honorary seat in Congress, permitting her to watch congressional debates from the floor, where members sat at their desks. Incumbent First Ladies Julia Tyler and Sarah Polk all sought Mrs. Madison's advice on how to conduct their public role. Her last public appearance was on the arm of President James K. Polk at his last White House reception.
Dolley Madison died at Her home in Washington, D.C. on July 12, 1849 at the age of 81. She was buried in the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C., but was later re-interred at Montpelier estate, Orange, Virginia. It was at Dolley Madison's funeral that incumbent President Zachary Taylor eulogized her as "First Lady," and this may be the first known use of the title in connection with a president's wife. A book published this month, written by Bruce Chadwick, is called James and Dolley Madison: America's First Power Couple.
Dolley Madison was born on May 20, 1768 in Guilford County, North Carolina. Her father was John Payne, a planter who emancipated his slaves and moved to Philadelphia in 1783. Dolley's mother was Mary Coles Payne. After her husband's death in 1792, Mary Payne briefly opened their home to boarders, including Congressman Aaron Burr of New York. Several years later, Burr introduced the widowed Dolley Todd to Congressman James Madison of Virginia.
James Madison was not her first husband. When Dolley was 21 years old, in January of 1790, she married lawyer John Todd in Philadelphia. Todd died in a yellow fever epidemic, in October of 1793. The following year she married James Madison on September 15, 1794. Following their wedding, they lived in Madison's elegant three-story Spruce Street brick house until 1797, when they moved to the Madison family plantation, "Montpelier," in Orange, Virginia.
Dolley had two sons from her first marriage: John Payne Todd and William Isaac Todd. William died at the age of three in the same day as his father. She had no children with James Madison. Following her second marriage and move to Madison's Virginia estate, Dolley Madison assumed household management of the plantation and slaves, and also cared for her elderly mother-in-law who lived there. James Madison served as Secretary of State in the Administration of his friend, President Thomas Jefferson, from 1801 to 1809, and the Madisons moved to Washington, D.C. At those receptions and dinners which the widowed Jefferson felt necessitated a hostess, he asked Dolley Madison to aide him. She also took a large public role in the fundraising effort that supported the exploration of the Louisiana Territory by explorers Lewis and Clark. Dolley Madison's popularity as a hostess in Washington helped with recognition of her husband by those members of congress whose electoral votes then chose the winner of presidential races. During the 1808 election, however, there were false articles Federalist newspapers in Baltimore and Boston that implied that Dolley Madison had been intimate with President Jefferson. This proved not to be a factor in the outcome of the election.
In preparation for the inaugural ceremonies of James Madison on March 4, 1809, Captain Tom Tingey, commandant of the Washington Navy Yard, had requested Dolley Madison's permission and sponsorship of a dance and dinner, to which she agreed. This became the first presidential "inaugural ball". It was held at Long's Hotel, on Capitol Hill, with four hundred guests in attendance. The event began at 7 p.m., opening with the playing of "Jefferson's March," followed by the entrance of the former President. Next, "Madison's March," was played and the new president and his wife entered.
Dolley Madison was a very active first lady. She would steer conversation with political figures, including their spouses, in order to gain information on issues facing the Madison Administration. She would try to lobby them for her husband. She redecorated the public rooms in a style grand enough to impress foreign diplomats and dressed in a regal, yet simple manner. She sometimes sought to place supporters, friends and family members into official government positions.
Dolly Madison is best known for what she did in the hours preceding the burning of Washington by British troops during the War of 1812. She famously refused to leave the White House before being assured that the large portrait of George Washington was removed from the walls and taken safely away from potential destruction or defacing by the approaching enemy.
Dolley Madison is credited with convincing the President to permit Washingtonian Francis Scott Key to board a ship in an effort to seek the freedom of a captured friend, and that when he did so, he witnessed the firing on Fort McHenry and wrote the poem which became the Star Spangled Banner.
After Madison left office, the family faced a vast debt accumulated by her irresponsible son John. James Madison died in 1836 and Dolley was forced to sell their Virginia properties, including her home, the plantation Montpelier. In 1844, she returned permanently to Washington, D.C., living across from the White House. She was in a state of near-poverty that was alleviated somewhat when Congress agreed to purchase part of her husband's papers. She was also awarded an honorary seat in Congress, permitting her to watch congressional debates from the floor, where members sat at their desks. Incumbent First Ladies Julia Tyler and Sarah Polk all sought Mrs. Madison's advice on how to conduct their public role. Her last public appearance was on the arm of President James K. Polk at his last White House reception.
Dolley Madison died at Her home in Washington, D.C. on July 12, 1849 at the age of 81. She was buried in the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C., but was later re-interred at Montpelier estate, Orange, Virginia. It was at Dolley Madison's funeral that incumbent President Zachary Taylor eulogized her as "First Lady," and this may be the first known use of the title in connection with a president's wife. A book published this month, written by Bruce Chadwick, is called James and Dolley Madison: America's First Power Couple.