- March 6, 1809, 217 years ago — Death of Thomas Heyward Jr..
- March 6, 1724, 302 years ago — Birth of Henry Laurens, President of the Continental Congress.
- March 7, 1707, 319 years ago — Birth of Stephen Hopkins, signer of the Declaration of Independence.
- March 7, 1699, 327 years ago — Birth of Susanna Boylston Adams, mother of John Adams.
James Madison
MADISON, James, statesman and fourth President of the United States, born in Port Conway, Va., 16 March, 1751; died in Montpelier, Va., 28 June, 1836.
He graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton) in 1771 and became active in Virginia politics. Madison was a delegate to the Continental Congress and played a central role in drafting the U.S. Constitution. He co-authored the Federalist Papers with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, advocating for ratification.
Madison served as Secretary of State under Thomas Jefferson and succeeded him as President (1809–1817). His presidency included the War of 1812, which tested the young nation’s resilience.
Known as the “Father of the Constitution,” Madison’s legacy includes the Bill of Rights and a vision of balanced republican government. He retired to Montpelier, where he remained active in public discourse until his death.
Source:
Wilson, James Grant, and John Fiske, eds. Appleton’s Cyclopædia of American Biography. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1887. Patriot Echoes Archive
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