If it included persuasion by convincing, Mr. Madison was the most eloquent man I ever heard."

Patrick Henry, letter to unidentified correspondent
November 12, 1790

Read an essay by Colleen Sheehan about James Madison's life and accomplishments.
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Born March 16, 1751, Port Conway, King George County, Virginia; son of James Madison Sr. (family emigrated to Virginia in 1653) and Nelly Conway [Madison].
Education Studied under private tutors and was graduated from the College of New Jersey, now Princeton) in 1771.
Religion Episcopalian
Family At the age of 43 married Dolly Paine Todd on September 15, 1794; they had no children.
Accomplishments Committee of Safety for Orange County, Virginia (1774)
General Assembly of Virginia (1776)
Virginia Council of State (1778-79)
Continental Congress (1780-83; 87-88)
Virginia House of Delegates (1784-86)
Annapolis Convention (1786)
Constitutional Convention (1787)
Co-author, The Federalist Papers (1787-88)
United States House of Representatives (1789-97)
Secretary of State (1801-09)
President of the United States (1809-17)
Rector of the University of Virginia (1826-36)
Died June 28, 1836, at his home, Montpelier, in Virginia, where he is buried.
Last Words "Nothing more than a change of mind, my dear."


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