James Madison

James Madison Jr. (March 16, 1751 – June 28, 1836) was an American Founding Father and the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. He was also the most important author of the United States Constitution and a slave owner with a large plantation.^[1]

James Madison
Portrait by John Vanderlyn, 1816
4th President of the United States
In office March 4, 1809 – March 4, 1817
Vice President	George Clinton (1809–12) None (1812–1813) Elbridge Gerry (1813–14) None (1814–1817)
Preceded by	Thomas Jefferson
Succeeded by	James Monroe
5th United States Secretary of State
In office May 2, 1801 – March 3, 1809
President	Thomas Jefferson
Preceded by	John Marshall
Succeeded by	Robert Smith
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia
In office March 4, 1789 – March 4, 1797
Preceded by	Constituency established
Succeeded by	George Hancock (5th) John Dawson (15th)
Constituency	5th district (1789–1793) 15th district (1793–1797)
Delegate from Virginia to the Congress of the Confederation
In office November 6, 1786 – October 30, 1787
Preceded by	Seat established
Succeeded by	Cyrus Griffin
In office March 1, 1781 – November 1, 1783
Preceded by	Seat established
Succeeded by	Thomas Jefferson
Personal details
Born	(1751-03-16)March 16, 1751 Port Conway, Virginia, U.S.
Died	June 28, 1836(1836-06-28) (aged 85) Montpelier, Virginia, U.S.
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic-Republican
Height	5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
Spouse(s)	Dolley Todd Madison
Religion	Episcopal Church
Signature

Madison was the shortest president in American history, with a height of 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m).^[2]

Family

James Madison Jr. was the eldest son of Colonel James Madison Sr. and Nellie Conway Madison.

Madison married Dolley Todd (née Payne) on September 14, 1794 at the age of 43.^[3]

Political life

Madison started his career in the Virginia legislature. Madison learned many things from Thomas Jefferson. Madison wanted a stronger federal government than the Articles of Confederation provided. He was a member of the Constitutional Conventtion, which formed the current United States Constitution. Madison is called the "Father of the Constitution" because he helped write a large part of it and convinced people to pass it.

Madison was elected to the House of Representatives. Madison helped write the first laws for the United States. Madison also was the main writer of the Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to the Constitution.

Madison and Jefferson were good friends and helped create the Democratic-Republican Party, which wanted a weak federal government.

Madison was selected by President Jefferson to be his Secretary of State.^[4]

Presidency

Madison was selected by his political party to be the Democratic-Republican candidate for president in 1808. He won that election and was re-elected in 1812.^[5]

The War of 1812 started while Madison was president. Madison still hoped for peace, but Congress wanted war and so he gave in, and the 61-year-old president approved a declaration of war against Britain on June 19, 1812. People who still wanted peace called it "Mr Madison's War."

Madison and his family were forced to flee in 1814 when British forces seized control of Washington, D.C., and burned the White House and many other buildings to the ground. Dolley Madison, his wife, famously saved a portrait of George Washington from the fire.^[6]

The war caused Madison to want a stronger government than he had before. While he originally was against a national bank, he decided that it was necessary to fund a war. After the charter of the First Bank of the United States expired, Madison recreated it.^[7]

Later life

Madison retired to Virginia after his second term. He died there from heart failure on June 28, 1836 at the age of 85.^[8]