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James Madison

James Madison
James Madison.jpg
4th President of the United States
In office
March 4, 1809 – March 4, 1817
Vice President George Clinton (1809–1812)
None (1812–1813)
Elbridge Gerry (1813–1814)
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's 15th district
In office
March 4, 1793 – March 4, 1797
Preceded by Constituency established
Succeeded by John Dawson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 5th district
In office
March 4, 1789 – March 4, 1793
Preceded by Constituency established
Succeeded by George Hancock
Delegate to the Congress of the Confederation
from Virginia
In office
March 1, 1781 – November 1, 1783
Preceded by Constituency established
Succeeded by Thomas Jefferson
Personal details
Born (1751-03-16)March 16, 1751
Port Conway, Virginia, British America
Died June 28, 1836(1836-06-28) (aged 85)
Orange, Virginia, U.S.
Political party Democratic-Republican (founder 1791)
Height 5 ft 4 in (163 cm)
Spouse(s) Dolley Payne Todd (1794–1836)
Children John (stepson)
Alma mater Princeton University
Signature Cursive signature in ink
Military service
Allegiance Colony of Virginia
Service/branch British-Red-Ensign-1707.svg Virginia Militia
Years of service 1775
Rank US-O6 insignia.svg Colonel
The Madison Cabinet
Office Name Term
President James Madison 1809–1817
Vice President George Clinton 1809–1812
Elbridge Gerry 1813–1814
Secretary of State Robert Smith 1809–1811
James Monroe 1811–1817
Secretary of Treasury Albert Gallatin 1809–1814
George W. Campbell 1814
Alexander J. Dallas 1814–1816
William H. Crawford 1816–1817
Secretary of War William Eustis 1809–1813
John Armstrong, Jr. 1813–1814
James Monroe 1814–1815
William H. Crawford 1815–1816
Attorney General Caesar A. Rodney 1809–1811
William Pinkney 1811–1814
Richard Rush 1814–1817
Secretary of the Navy Paul Hamilton 1809–1813
William Jones 1813–1814
Benjamin W. Crowninshield 1814–1817

James Madison, Jr., (March 16 [O.S. March 5], 1751 – June 28, 1836) was an American statesman and Founding Father who served as the fourth President of the United States from 1809 to 1817. He is hailed as the "Father of the Constitution" for his pivotal role in drafting and promoting the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Madison inherited his plantation Montpelier in Virginia and owned hundreds of slaves during his lifetime. He served as both a member of the Virginia House of Delegates and as a member of the Continental Congress prior to the Constitutional Convention. After the Convention, he became one of the leaders in the movement to ratify the Constitution, both in Virginia and nationally. His collaboration with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay produced The Federalist Papers, among the most important treatises in support of the Constitution. Madison's political views changed throughout his life. During deliberations on the Constitution, he favored a strong national government, but later preferred stronger state governments, before settling between the two extremes later in his life.

In 1789, Madison became a leader in the new House of Representatives, drafting many basic laws. He is noted for drafting the first ten amendments to the Constitution, and thus is known also as the "Father of the Bill of Rights." He worked closely with President George Washington to organize the new federal government. Breaking with Hamilton and the Federalist Party in 1791, he and Thomas Jefferson organized the Democratic-Republican Party. In response to the Alien and Sedition Acts, Jefferson and Madison drafted the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions, arguing that states can nullify unconstitutional laws.


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