-
Birth
Dolley Payne was born in Guilford County, North Carolina. -
First Marriage
Dolley Payne got married to lawyer John Todd in Philadelphia. Three years later he passed away due to an outbreak of yellow fever. -
First Child
Dolley and John Todd gave birth to their first child, John Payne Todd, who was nicknamed Payne. -
Second Child
Shortly after Payne was born they had another child in 1793 named William Temple Todd. Unfortunately William died at the age of three months on the same day his father did due to yellow fever as well. -
Second Marriage
In West Virginia, she got married to James Madison. -
Period: to
Social Worker
She was considered the most important person in the social circles of America for half a century by multiple people. -
Period: to
Contributed To the Government
She helped President Thomas Jefferson to correctly repair any violations that appeared "when dealing with foreign dignitaries." -
Lewis and Clark's Expedition
For the benefit of Lewis and Clark’s exploration of the west, she took a large responsibility in leading fundraising efforts to promote the two explorers. -
James Madisons Presidential Election
Even though women were extremely excluded in government decisions, Dolley Madison managed to help her husband in the 1808 presidential election by her networking and charming skills. -
Period: to
Dolley's Famous Squeezes
Dolley Madison held multiple parties, known as squeezes, every Wednesday evening to let the people discuss and argue political topics. Her determination to have these parties may have helped convince members of Congress to create a plan to move the capital from Washington back to Philadelphia. -
Period: to
Redecorated the White House
She redecorated the White House multiple times while James Madison was in presidency. Some of these designs are still a part of the White House. -
George Washington Portrait
Toward the end of the War of 1812, Dolley Madison saves the portrait of George Washington before the British soldiers try to burn it down. This portrait was located in the White House when she saved it. -
Sends First Message Via Telegraph
She was honored for connecting the country’s founding fathers and she was invited to be the first citizen to send a message on the telegraph. -
Being a National Institution
Dolley Madison was and still is very highly respected by many great historical politicians for sticking out when women were not a very big part in politics and for being a “national institution” said Andrew Jackson. This book portrays how great of an impact she had on the Nation. -
Death
Dolley Payne Todd Madison died in the year of 1849 in her home in Washington, D.C. (Montpelier). -
The First Lady
Zachary Taylor referred to her as the country’s “first lady” and was believed to be the first person to receive that title. Now each wife of the president is considered to be the "first lady."
