James Madison: Short Contender

President from March 4, 1809– March 3, 1817

What I read:

James Madison by Ralph Ketcham

Age at inauguration: 57 (are you seeing a pattern?)

Political Party: Democratic-Republican

Age at death: 85

Cause of Death: Officially? Unknown. He was found dead with his uneaten breakfast tray in front of him. Unofficially, it's possible that died of "old age" but he could've had a seizure (see health & appearance).

Health & Appearance: Madison is our shortest president at 5'4". He weighed barely 100 pounds and stood a shoulder shorter than his wife Dolly Madison, who was 16 years younger than he. He had brown hair, blue eyes, a tawny complexion, and his nose was scarred after getting frost bite in his youth. He was mostly healthy, though frail, but always worried about getting one of the many diseases of his day. He had arthritis after mid-age and possible gallbladder issues. He experienced epileptic seizures throughout his life, which increased in intensity as he got older. 

Pre-Presidency: Madison came from wealth. He had a formal education and could speak several languages. He formed the Democratic-Republican Party while in college. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress and then returned to the Virginia legislature where he fought off Patrick Henry’s attempt to tax citizens in support of Christianity. Madison successfully argued for freedom of religion and that states should not choose one religion over another, then penned the Religious Freedom Statute. For this, Patrick Henry made sure Madison would not be a Senator for Virginia. Instead, Madison became a Congressman, beating James Monroe. 

Madison is considered the Father of the Constitution and co-authored the Federalist Papers with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay. The Federalist Papers argued for the ratification of the Constitution. He, like Jefferson, was not a fan of Hamilton and the National Bank. His father’s estate was Montpelier, 25 miles from Monticello, so he and Jefferson were often in contact. He was appointed President Jefferson’s Secretary of State and was heavily involved in writing the Bill of Rights. Madison is one of a long line of Secretary of States who later became President. In order to get Jefferson elected to his second term, Madison brokered a deal with Hamilton to support Jefferson over Aaron Burr. Burr’s defeat (and grudge) lead to the duel that ended Hamilton’s life. 

Major accomplishments: In his first term, the U.S. went to war with Britain but were unprepared and took heavy losses. During the War of 1812, the British burned the White House while Madison was away. Dolly stayed in the White House as the British approached and helped organize the evacuation of many of the White House’s precious items. This endeared her to the American public, making her easily one of the most popular First Ladies in our history.

Madison, learning his lesson, authorized the U.S. military to increase its size. He installed James Monroe as Secretary of State. Monroe held duel cabinet posts as he also served as Secretary of War for 3 years. Napoleon’s power in France collapsed and Madison expanded U.S. trade to nations who were enemies of France. Madison and Monroe worked together very well and the country's economic power increased under their leadership.

Madison annexed West Florida after U.S. citizens, helped by General Andrew Jackson, kicked the Spanish out. Jackson had just defeated the British in the Battle of New Orleans and earned him the nickname, “Madison’s Hammer." 

Dolly Maddison was a political partner with her husband, and was the first to hold White House events with members of both parties in attendance. Prior to that, the political parties never comingled. Dolly had no enemies and was loved by all. James and Dolly never had children together, but James adopted Dolly’s son from a previous relationship who was unfortunately an alcoholic and drained Dolly of every dime she had. She lived a long life and was part of DC society until her death at 81 in 1849.

Are you kidding me? Not only was he shorter than his wife, imagine Madison standing 5’4” next to Jefferson at 6’2”--what a pair! He was the youngest delegate to the Continental Congress at 29. Like Jefferson, Madison died in financial trouble, leaving his widow Dolly in dire straits. 

He may or may not have been elected to the Presidency if Aaron Burr hadn't shot and killed Alexander Hamilton, who would have been a likely opponent for Madison.

What I learned: Madison and Jefferson’s friendship molded the early United States. Both were soft spoken but wielded mighty pens and the diplomatic charisma to bring people around to their point of view. Only Alexander Hamilton was an able foe to both. 

Without Madison's intellectual preparation and dogmatic arguments, we may have never moved into our present form of government.

PRECEDED BY: Thomas Jefferson

SUCCEEDED BY: James Monroe