James Madison (1751-1836) was a statesman, diplomat, and a Founding Father of the United States, who served as the fourth US president from 1809 to 1817. He played an important role in the drafting of the United States Constitution and the implementation of the Bill of Rights, while his presidency was largely characterized by the War of 1812 against Britain.
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Definition
Timeline
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16 Mar 1751Birth of James Madison at the Belle Grove plantation in Virginia.
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Apr 1776James Madison attends the Fifth Virginia Convention, contributes to the Virginia Declaration of Rights.
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1780 - 1783James Madison serves on the Continental Congress, becomes convinced of the deficiencies of the Articles of Confederation.
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29 May 1787Edmund Randolph introduces the Virginia Plan, drafted by James Madison, to the Convention, which calls for a strong federal government, a bicameral Congress, and proportional state representation.
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17 Sep 178739 delegates sign the United States Constitution; the Constitution is sent to the states for ratification and the Constitutional Convention comes to an end.
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Oct 1787 - May 1788The Federalist Papers are written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay under the pseudonym 'Publius', in support of the ratification of the US Constitution.
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27 Jun 1788Thanks to the efforts of James Madison and John Marshall, Virginia votes to ratify the US Constitution.
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8 Jun 1789US Representative from Virginia James Madison introduces twelve amendments to the newly ratified US Constitution during the first Federal Congress, ten of which are later ratified, becoming the Bill of Rights.
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15 Dec 1791The first ten amendments to the US Constitution - the Bill of Rights - are ratified.
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16 Sep 1794James Madison and Dolley Payne Todd are married in Virginia.
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1 May 1801The Madisons arrive in Washington, D.C. so James can take up his office as secretary of state.
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4 Mar 1809Dolley Madison holds an inaugural ball for her husband's inauguration as the fourth US president.
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4 Mar 1812James Madison begins his second presidential term.
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1 Jun 1812President Madison asks Congress for a declaration of war against the United Kingdom which is granted 17 days later.
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18 Jun 1812The War of 1812 begins between Great Britain and the United States when US President James Madison signs the declaration of war after Congress passed the resolution on 17 June. The war was publicly proclaimed on 19 June.
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27 Feb 1813The Vaccine Act of 1813 is signed into law by President James Madison, the first federal vaccination legislation enacted in the United States. The law was intended to encourage vaccination against smallpox during the War of 1812 and authorized a Vaccine Agent to distribute the vaccine via the US postal service. The law was repealed in 1822.
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24 Aug 1814The British burn Washington, D.C.; Dolley Madison directs her servants to save valuables, including the Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington.
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24 Dec 1814The Treaty of Ghent is signed, bringing an end to the War of 1812 and restoring pre-war borders.
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17 Feb 1815The Treaty of Ghent is signed by President James Madison after its ratification by the US Senate on 16 February, ending the War of 1812. The treaty was signed at Ghent, Belgium on 24 December 1814 but, due to slow communications, the conflict continued, including the Battle of New Orleans on 8 January 1815 which, though routinely heralded as a great American victory, was completely unnecessary as the war was already over.
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4 Mar 1817The Madisons leave office at the end of James' second term as president.
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1830The Madisons are forced to mortgage half of the Montpelier plantation to pay off the gambling debts of Dolley's son, John Payne Todd.
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28 Jun 1836James Madison dies at Montpelier, at the age of 85.
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12 Jul 1849Dolley Madison dies at the age of 81.
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31 May 1879The venue Gilmore's Garden in New York City, adjacent to Madison Square Park, is officially renamed Madison Square Garden by William K. Vanderbilt in honor of President James Madison.
