Biography
James Madison Biography
James Madison by John Vanderlyn, 1816
James Madison was born on March 16, 1751. He was the co-author, along with John Jay and Alexander Hamilton of the Federalist Papers and is viewed by many as the ‘father of the Constitution’. He was the fourth President of the United States.
Early Life
Madison was born in Virginia to Colonel James Madison, Senior and Eleanor Rose Conway. His parents were tobacco plantation owners in Virginia, where James spent much of his childhood. In 1769 James ventured to Princeton University, then called the College of New Jersey, finishing his degree in two years. After taking a break to recuperate from the strain, he began being mentored by Thomas Jefferson. Working alongside Jefferson, Madison became a prominent political figure at the state level, as well as by helping Jefferson draft several papers including their declaration of religious freedom.
Continental Congress
In addition, Madison was a key figure in persuading Virginia to offer Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee to the continental congress.
Despite initially being seen as another delegate without much promise, Madison was the best prepared delegate at the convention, his overall influence during the process has led many to call him the ‘father of the constitution’. Indeed within a year his mastery of congressional politics was shown by his ability to form effective legislative coalitions. Indeed while It was one of Madison’s driving passions during his political career to see a strong central government and legislative system. When it came time to decide how states would be represented, Madison voted strongly for representation based on population.
Madison’s notes are one of the few glimpses historians have into the thinking and processes going on behind the scenes during the convention. Later, Madison put aside his doubts about the representation proposal in the Senate to work on the Federalist Papers with John Jay and Alexander Hamilton. The Federalist Papers, in addition to Madison’s own notes are perhaps the most definitive commentary on the creation of the Constitution of the United States of America.
Politics
While in Congress, Madison was a key figure in the creation of the Bill of Rights. His leadership lead to the creation of the Republican Party that we see today – through an opposition to bowing to the needs of ‘moneyed corporations’ everywhere. The Republican Party was founded on the belief that the common man, and the will of the people, were the foundations of the United States.
Madison was a man of opposites. At one time even going so far as to say that ‘Democracy is the most vile form of government… democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention: have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property: and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths.’
James Madison by Gilbert Stuart, circa 1821
In his role as Jefferson’s Secretary of State, Madison protested heavily against the French and British practice of seizing American merchant ships, stating that it was contrary to international law. The protests had little real effect.
Madison was one of key figures behind the Embargo Act of 1807, which had little impact on Britain and France, but ultimately caused the United States’ economy to sink into a severe depression. The embargo act was later repealed. In spite of his lack of success with the Embargo, Madison was elected as President in 1808.
Presidency
As President, he readily recognized that power lead to distrust, stating that ‘The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted.’ During the first year of his administrated Madison moved to prohibit trade with Britain and France, a move Congress later authorized – instructing the President to deal most favorably with the nation which recognized America’s neutral rights.
On June 1, 1812, Madison asked Congress to declare war on Britain, in spite of advice from his senior advisers that the American army simply wasn’t large enough or prepared enough for another war. As a result, the young American army was severely defeated and the British invaded Washington, setting fire to the White House and the Capitol.
Later Life
After this second term, Madison retired to his estate in Virginia. He worked closely with Thomas Jefferson to establish the University of Virginia – largely as a result of what both saw as the educational inadequacies of the College of William & Mary. They were involved in every detail from soliciting funds and construction to finding the best teachers the young country had to offer. As a result of their involvement and influence, the University of Virginia quickly became one of the foremost houses of learning in the country.
After the establishment of the University, both men worked tirelessly: writing curriculum, following up with issues in the growing Universities and working closely with teachers to establish the best teaching methods in the country. After Jefferson’s death, Madison continued to work for the causes Jefferson believed in, arranging his letters and papers and publishing Jefferson’s works on two continents.
James Madison Stippling Engraving, between 1809 and 1817
Madison was further involved in the Virginia Convention in 1829, however he felt that the quality of the attendees was below par and refused to be involved in any official capacity. However, his influence over the young minds was felt in the hallways where he instructed several of the attendees on how their views should be formed.
Later in life, his involvement was mainly reduced to reading many of the major papers of the time and corresponding with important figures throughout the country – a task made all the more difficult by the onset of rheumatism.
At the end of his life, he continued to entertain guests from around the world at his estate, many of whom commented that he remained animated and energetic until the end. President James Madison died on June 28, 1836.
Facts
James Madison Facts
- James Madison’s President No.: 4th
- James Madison Served: 1809-1817
- James Madison’s Party: Democratic-Republican
- James Madison was from: Virginia
- James Madison Married: Dolley Payne Todd Madison
- James Madison was Born on: March 16, 1751
- James Madison was Born at: Port Conway, King George, Virginia
- James Madison Died on: June 28, 1836
- James Madison Died at: Montpelier in Virginia
- James Madison’s Education: Princeton University
- James Madison’s Jobs Before President: Lawyer, Represented Virginia in the Continental Congress, Congressman, Secretary of State
- James Madison’s Height: 5 feet, 4 inches (although this is disputed and could be up to 2 inches either way)
- Population at time James Madison was president: 7,239,881
- James Madison’s Pets: Macaw
- James Madison’s Transportation Methods: Horse and carriage
- James Madison’s Communication Methods: Letter
Books
Books
Speeches
Speeches
James Madison Inaugural Addresses
James Madison State of the Union Addresses
Quotes
James Madison Quotes
It is proper to take alarm at the first experiment on our liberties. . . . Who does not see that the same authority which can establish Christianity, in exclusion of all other Religions, may establish with the same ease any particular sect of Christians, in exclusion of all other Sects?
1785.
Memorial and Remonstrance Against ReligiousAssessments.
By a faction, understand a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community.
1787. The Federalist No. 10.
A zeal for different opinions concerning religion, concerning government, and many other points, as well as speculation as of practice; an attachment of different leaders ambitiously contending for preeminence and power; or to persons of other descriptions whose fortunes have been interesting to the human passions, have, in turn, divided mankind into parties, inflamed them with mutual animosity, and rendered them much more disposed to vex and oppress each other than to cooperate for their common good … But the most common and durable source of factions has been the various and unequal distribution of property.
1787. The Federalist No. 10.
To secure the public good, and private rights, against the gander of … faction, and at the same time to preserve the spirit and form of popular government, is then the great object to which our inquiries are directed.
1787. The Federalist No. 10.
Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an ailment without which it instantly expires. But it could not be less folly to abolish liberty, which is essential to political life, because it nourishes faction than it would be to wish the annihilation of air, which is essential to animal life, because it imparts to fire its destructive agency.
1787. The Federalist No. 10.
The diversity in the faculties of men, from which the rights of property originate, is not less an insuperable obstacle to a uniformity of interests. The protection of these faculties is the first object of government. From the protection of different and unequal faculties of acquiring property, the possession of different degrees and kinds of property immediately results.
1787. The Federalist No. 10.
The most common and durable source of factions, has been the various and unequal distribution of property. Those who hold, and those who are without property, have ever formed distinct interests in society.
1787. The Federalist No. 10.
To secure the public good and private rights against the danger of . . . faction, and at the same time to preserve the spirit and the form of popular government, is then the great object to which our inquiries are directed.
1787. The Federalist No. 10.
The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.
1788. The Federalist No. 47.
But the great security against a gradual concentration of the several powers in the same department, consists in giving to those who administer each department, the necessary constitutional means, and personal motives, to resist encroachments of the others. . . . Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. . . . If men were angels, no government would be necessary. . . . In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place, oblige it to control itself.
1788. The Federalist No. 51.
It will be of little avail to the people that the laws are made by men of their own choice, if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood.
1788. The Federalist No. 62.
Since the general civilization of mankind, I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of the freedom of the pople by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.
16th June, 1788. Speech in the Virginia Convention.
I go on the principle that a public debt is a public curse, and in a Republican Government a greater curse than in any other.
13th April, 1790. Letter to Henry Lee.
In every political society, parties are unavoidable. A difference of interests, real or supposed, is the most natural and fruitful source of them. . . . The great art of politicians lies in making them checks and balances to each other.
1792. “Parties”
Some degree of abuse is inseparable from the proper use of every thing; and in no instance is this more true, than in that of the press. It has accordingly been decided by the practice of the states, that it is better to leave a few of its noxious branches, to their luxuriant growth, than by pruning them away, to injure the vigor of those yielding the proper fruits.
1799-1800. “Report on the Virginia Resolutions.”
A popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance.
4th August, 1822. Letter to W.T. Barry.
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