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Birth
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. -
Paynes return to Virginia
The family moved to Virginia to live closer to her mothers family. Dolley grew up on her parents plantation. -
Move to Philadelpia
Dolley and her family move to Philadelphia after her farther emancipated their slaves. -
Education
There is no record of Dolley attending a school for a formal education. -
Marriage and Family
Married John Todd a Quaker lawyer. They had two sons John
Payne and William Temple. -
Family loss
Dolley lost her husband and son William to yellow fever in September 1793 -
Second Marriage
Dolley married James Madison who was 17 years older then her on September 15, 1794 -
Expelled from her religion
She was expelled from the Society of Friends ,because she married James Madison who was not a Quaker. -
Thomas Jefferson fisrt lady
Thomas Jefferson asked her to fill in for his first lady because of him being a widower. -
Period: to
Dolley organized letters
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's contribution to the first official presidential residence
Dolley worked with architect Benjamin Latrobe to furnish and decorate the presidential residence elegantly and entertained frequently. -
Scandal
In the election of 1808 the Federalist implied she had been intimate with President Jefferson. -
Weekly gatherings
Dolley's weekly gatherings help contribute to her husband's popularity as president. -
Setting the role of first lady
Hostess in Washington, held the first inaugural ball at the Long's Hotel -
Supporter of young orphaned girls
First First Lady to support, fundraiser, and board member for a public organization. -
Ice cream
Credited for making ice cream popular. -
Washington burning
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. -
Congress
Awarded an honorary seat in Congress, so she could watch congressional debates. -
Dolly Madison Died
She died in Washington D.C. She died by initially buried at the Congressional Cemetery later moved to Monpelier. She was 81 years.
