Fun Facts About James Madison
- James Madison grew so worried about his legacy in old age that he edited his own archived letters, and in some correspondence he even forged Thomas Jefferson's handwriting.[1][3][4]
- At Princeton, Madison and his classmate Aaron Burr completed the college's three-year Bachelor of Arts degree in just two years.[1]
- Madison met his wife Dolley through Aaron Burr, who introduced them at Madison's request after befriending her at a Philadelphia boardinghouse.[1]
- Madison skipped the College of William and Mary because Williamsburg's lowland climate was thought to harbor infectious disease, and went to Princeton instead.[1]
- When the British burned Washington in 1814, President Madison fled to Virginia, and his wife Dolley rescued the portrait of George Washington before leaving the White House.[1][5][6]
- According to one common account, Madison's last words, after his niece asked what was the matter, were "Nothing more than a change of mind, my dear."[1]
- James Madison was alive at the same time as Mark Twain — their lives overlapped for 1 year (1835–1836).[1][2][7][8]
- James Madison lived to about 85, from 1751 until 1836.[1][2]
James Madison was a Founding Father and the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. Before his presidency, Madison was a statesman and diplomat. Madison was popularly acclaimed as the "Father of the Constitution" for his pivotal role in drafting and promoting the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.[1]
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Questions About James Madison
When was James Madison born?
James Madison was born on March 16, 1751, and died on June 28, 1836.
How old was James Madison at death?
James Madison was born on March 16, 1751, and died on June 28, 1836, at age 85.
What was James Madison known for?
James Madison was known for: Fourth US president, Father of the Constitution. James Madison was a Founding Father and the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. Before his presidency, Madison was a statesman and diplomat. Madison was popularly acclaimed as the "Father of the Constitution" for his pivotal role in drafting and promoting the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.
Who was alive at the same time as James Madison?
James Madison's closest contemporary was Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Their lives overlapped for 81 years.
Sources
- James Madison — Wikipedia. Text available under CC BY-SA 4.0
- James Madison (Q11813) — Wikidata
- Thomas Jefferson — Wikipedia
- Thomas Jefferson (Q11812) — Wikidata
- George Washington — Wikipedia
- George Washington (Q23) — Wikidata
- Mark Twain — Wikipedia
- Mark Twain (Q7245) — Wikidata
- Portrait: James Madison.jpg — Wikimedia Commons. John Vanderlyn, Public domain