![4th US President and Founding Father James Madison](https://www.onthisday.com/images/people/james-madison.jpg?w=360)
Profession: 4th US President and Founding Father
Political Party: Democratic-Republican
Political Titles: United States Secretary of State
Presidential Term: March 4, 1809 - March 4, 1817
Preceded By: Thomas Jefferson
Succeeded By: James Monroe
Biography: Previously serving as Secretary of State under Thomas Jefferson, Madison succeeded his boss as President in 1809. he is known commonly as the "Father of the Constitution" for playing a crucial role in the drafting of the US Constitution and author of the US Bill of Rights.
Madison was one of the leaders of the movement to ratify the Constitution, and his work with John Jay and Alexander Hamilton produced The Federalist Papers, which stands as one of the most significant works in support of the Constitution.
As Secretary of State he presided over the Louisiana Purchase which doubled the size of the United States. A popular president with historians, Madison's term in office saw growing prosperity for several years. The War of 1812 occurred during his presidency and was a stalemate; it helped to change his opinion on a national bank and a strong central government, which he came to support.
Born: March 16, 1751
Birthplace: Port Conway, Virginia, USA
Star Sign: Pisces
Articles and Photos
Constitution of the United States
Page one of the original copy of the Constitution of the United States
September 17, 1787Bill of Rights
The bill of rights as it was created on September 25, 1789
December 15, 1791
Married Life
- 1794-09-15 4th US President James Madison (43) weds Dolley Madison (26) in Jefferson County, West Virginia
Historical Events
- 1787-05-29 "Virginia Plan" by James Madison and Edmund Randolph proposed to the Constitutional Convention advocating for a national government with three branches - legislative, executive, and judicial
- 1787-10-27 Federalist Papers start appearing in New York newspapers under pseudonym "Publius" (written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay)
- 1789-06-08 James Madison introduces a proposed Bill of Rights in the US House of Representatives
- 1808-12-07 James Madison elected 4th US President, and George Clinton re-elected Vice-President
- 1809-03-04 James Madison becomes 1st US President inaugurated in American-made clothes
- 1812-12-02 James Madison re-elected President of the US, Elbridge Gerry Vice-President
- 1815-02-17 Treaty of Ghent ratified by the US Senate and signed by President James Madison ending War of 1812, over a month after it was signed in Europe
- 1879-05-31 Madison Square Garden opens in New York, named after 4th President James Madison
Quotes by James Madison
- "If man is not fit to govern himself, how can he be fit to govern someone else?"
Biographies and Sources
- Virginia Plan (1787) - National Archives Museum