Basic Facts:
Birth: March 16, 1751 at Port Conway, Virginia
Death: June 28, 1836 at Montpelier, Virginia
Married: September 15, 1794 to Dolly Payne Todd (1768-1849)
Children: None
President: Two terms beginning March 4, 1809 and March 4, 1813
Quote: “Justice is the end of government. It ever has been, and ever will be pursued, until it is obtained or until liberty be lost in the pursuit.”
Family:
Dolly Payne married John Todd in 1790 and had two sons, John Payne and William. They lived in Philadelphia. An epidemic of Yellow Fever in 1793 took the lives of her husband, John, her son, William, and both of John Todd’s parents. While her husband had left her money in his will, the executor, her brother-in-law, withheld the funds and she had to sue him for what she was owed. Dolly lived in a boardinghouse with son John Payne. A fellow resident, Aaron Burr, introduced her to James Madison in 1794. They were married on September 15, 1794. Raised a Quaker, Dolly was expelled from the Society of Friends for marrying outside her faith.
Dolly and James Madison had no children together. John Payne Todd was adopted by James Madison. According to Wikipedia: As an adult, Todd never settled into a career. Believed to be alcoholic, he was belligerent, and was repeatedly convicted of shooting incidents and sentenced to serve jail time for assaults and disruption of the peace. Twice he was sent to debtors’ prison, and his stepfather had to cover much of his debts and bail bonds by mortgaging his Montpelier plantation. During his second term, Madison assigned his stepson as secretary to an official delegation to Europe, but the 21-year-old Todd spent much of the time drinking, shooting and acquiring art. For a time, Madison assigned him to manage operations at Montpelier, but Todd was not successful.
Because of his problems, Todd contributed to his mother’s late life poverty, as she and Madison had sacrificed for him during their lives. Dolley Madison sold the family’s Montpelier plantation to cover his debts and gain some living expenses. But, she was still devoted to him. She lived with and was cared for by her niece Anne Cutts, and bequeathed her half of her estate. Todd threatened to sue Cutts to gain more of his mother’s estate, all that was left from money she received for selling Madison’s papers to the Library of Congress…. John Todd died in 1852 of typhoid fever.
Other
Madison was the first president who had prior service as a Congressman.
Madison authored the Constitution.
Zachary Taylor and Madison were second cousins.
Madison was the first president to wear long trousers. All previous presidents wore knee breeches.
During the War of 1812 Madison was under enemy fire. He was the first president to be in that situation.
At 5 feet, 4 inches and less than 100 pounds, he was the shortest and lightest president.
Dolley Madison sent the first personal message using the Morse telegraph in 1844.
Dolly Madison’s sister, Lucy Payne Washington, was married at the White House in 1812. Her groom was Thomas Todd. This was the first wedding to take place in the White House. (Lucy Payne’s first husband, George Steptoe Washington was a nephew of George Washington.)
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Sources:
Internet Public Library.org
Greenman, Barbara. The Timeline History of U. S. Presidents and First Ladies Thunder Bay Press, San Diego, California, 2009.