Dolley Payne Todd Madison; 1809-1817

Born: 1768
Died: 1849

Dolley Madison was warm, joyful and generous, and both her husband and her country adored her. Her parents were Virginia Quakers whose opposition to slavery prompted their move north to Philadelphia in 1783. One of eight children, Dolley attended Quaker schools open to both sexes. At 21, she married lawyer John Todd and had two sons. At 25, she lost both John and her baby to yellow fever. The next year, she wed the acclaimed Virginia Congressman James Madison. Seventeen years her senior, he was in many ways her opposite -- slight and formal while she was robust and outgoing -- but their 42-year marriage, though childless, was famously happy.

Dolley's love of people and activity served her well at the White House during the Jefferson and Madison Administrations. Though she favored French fashions and fancy turbans, she genuinely welcomed one and all, regardless of their background or station. Her rapport with diplomats and politicians won allies for her husband, and she helped found a home for orphan girls. But Dolley is best known for fleeing with George Washington's portrait before the British burned the White House in 1814. When James retired, the couple returned to Montpelier, their Virginia plantation, and lived there for 20 years. But Dolley moved back to Washington, at 68, when James died. There she remained as popular as ever, visiting Presidents and receiving an honorary seat in Congress.

Fourth President
James Madison