-
Dolley Madison was born on May 20, 1768 in a Quaker settlement of New Garden, North Carolina. She was the eldest daughter of
Mary Coles and John Payne. -
The family moved to Virginia to live closer to her mothers family. Dolley grew up on her parents plantation.
-
Dolley and her family move to Philadelphia after her farther emancipated their slaves.
-
There is no record of Dolley attending a school for a formal education.
-
Married John Todd a Quaker lawyer. They had two sons John
Payne and William Temple. -
Dolley lost her husband and son William to yellow fever in September 1793
-
Dolley married James Madison who was 17 years older then her on September 15, 1794
-
She was expelled from the Society of Friends ,because she married James Madison who was not a Quaker.
-
Thomas Jefferson asked her to fill in for his first lady because of him being a widower.
-
Dolley organized and copied her husband papers to earn money because her son missed managed the planation. Congress pay $55,000 for editing and publishing the letters.
-
Dolley worked with architect Benjamin Latrobe to furnish and decorate the presidential residence elegantly and entertained frequently.
-
In the election of 1808 the Federalist implied she had been intimate with President Jefferson.
-
Dolley's weekly gatherings help contribute to her husband's popularity as president.
-
Hostess in Washington, held the first inaugural ball at the Long's Hotel
-
First First Lady to support, fundraiser, and board member for a public organization.
-
Credited for making ice cream popular.
-
Dolly Madison saved several important white house items. She move the important docments. She moved them because the British was moving to the white house. The most important was a painting of George Washington.
-
Awarded an honorary seat in Congress, so she could watch congressional debates.
-
She died in Washington D.C. She died by initially buried at the Congressional Cemetery later moved to Monpelier. She was 81 years.
