Madison, James
fourth president of the United States, was born March 16, 1751, in Orange county, Va. At the age of seventeen years he entered Princeton college, N. J., where he graduated in 1771, and commenced the study of the law. In 1776 he was elected member of the general assembly of Virginia, and in 1778 was elected to the executive council of the state. He was a elected to the continental congress in 1779; was a member of that body three years, and a member of the legislature of Virginia from 1784 to 1786.
He was a member of the convention which formed the constitution of the United States in 1787. He was elected a member of the house of representatives in 1789, and held the office eight years, during which time (1794) he married Mrs.
Dolly Paine Todd, a young widow, twenty-three years of age. He was elected a member of the Virginia assembly in 1797.
In 1801 Jefferson appointed him secretary of state, which office he held eight years.
He was the successful candidate for the presidency in 1808, and was inaugurated March 4, 1809. He was re-elected in 1812, and took the oath of office March 4, 1813.
At the close of his second term he retired to his home at Montpelier, and died June 28, 1836. Madison held office about thirty-two years. He was economical, and died rich. His complete works have been issued in six volumes.