Dolley Madison was raised on a plantation with her family of nine in New Garden, North Carolina. She had seven siblings and her parents, John Payne, Jr. and Mary Cole Payne.1 After she reached the age of fifteen, her father sold their plantation because he did not believe in slavery. With the money he had accumulated over the years, he left the countryside to start a business in Philadelphia.2 Dolley Madison’s father slowly began to lose his business. He was not a very good business man. After losing his business in 1789, Dolley’s mother began to rent out rooms of their house to other people.3
Dolley was known for being a very beautiful woman. Many men lined up to ask her to marry. It was not until she was twenty-one years old that she met her first husband, John Todd.4 Within a year, the two were married and within three, they had two sons. Unfortunately, John Todd and Dolley’s youngest son were killed when an epidemic of yellow fever arrived. This unfortunate event left Dolley Todd alone with her oldest child.5
After losing her husband, Dolley did not stay a widow for long. A man she had met when she was nineteen years old at the Constitutional Convention began to woe her. James Madison was one of her many fans who had tried to court Dolley many years prior.6 The odd thing was that James Madison was not exactly the kind of man that women found attractive. He lacked many attributes that women usually found admirable. He could not dance or ride a horse, and he was seventeen years older than Dolley.7 These factors did not sway Dolley’s opinion of the “Father of the Constitution,” and she agreed to marry him. Later in their marriage, she converted to Episcopalian and abandoned her Quaker affiliation.8 After this discovery by her family, she was quickly disowned and left with only her son and her new husband, James Madison.
James Madison served as the Secretary of State under Thomas Jefferson for his two terms. While under his presidency, Dolley Madison was asked by Jefferson to be in charge of the social affairs of the White House.9 She was given this position because she seemed to have loved everyone she met and treated everyone equally with care. When Jefferson decided not to run for a third term, he decided that there would be no better fit for president than the “Father of the Constitution,” James Madison.10 Dolley Madison was seen as one of the best first ladies of all time. She was constantly recognized for the way she upheld herself and was loved by everyone. She was even sometimes called “Queen Dolley.”11
During James Madison’s first term in office, he faced a war with England in the War of 1812.12 In the year 1814, the British marched into Washington D.C. and toward the White House, where Dolley and James Madison were staying. As Dolley saw the British approaching, she ignored all the people in the White House who were telling her that she needed to leave. Instead, she began to load all the valuables from the White House, such as fine china, important documents, and the famous portrait of George Washington by the artist Gilbert Stuart.13 After loading as much as she could, she then left the White House. When Dolley Madison saved that painting and all the artifacts, she did not know she was leaving her mark on history. She changed the way the White House social affairs were held and saved one of the most valuable paintings in the United States. She was a very determined woman that left an impact on everyone and everything she came in contact with.
- Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2014, s.v. “Dolly Madison.” ↵
- Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2014, s.v. “Dolly Madison.” ↵
- Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2014, s.v. “Dolly Madison.” ↵
- Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2014, s.v. “Dolly Madison.” ↵
- Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2014, s.v. “Dolly Madison.” ↵
- Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2014, s.v. “Dolly Madison.” ↵
- Salem Press Biographical, 2016, s.v. “Dolley Madison,” by Robert P. Watson. ↵
- Salem Press Biographical, 2016, s.v. “Dolley Madison,” by Robert P. Watson. ↵
- Salem Press Biographical, 2016, s.v. “Dolley Madison,” by Robert P. Watson. ↵
- Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2014, s.v. “Dolly Madison.” ↵
- Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2014, s.v. “Dolly Madison.” ↵
- Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2014, s.v. “Dolly Madison.” ↵
- Salem Press Biographical, 2016, s.v. “Dolley Madison,” by Robert P. Watson. ↵
54 comments
Caroline Bush
I have to admit that before I read this article I had never heard of Dolly Madison, but after reading it I have gained a new appreciation of the actions she took while her husband was in office. Its amazing to see the hardships this women went through before she inevitably became one of the most famous first lady’s in history. If not for Madison’s actions we would not have the famous painting of George Washington still hanging in the White House. its also thanks to her that the White House changed the ways social affairs were handled. I regret not knowing about Dolly Madison before this article because of the huge impact she had on our history.
Troy Leonard
Before I read this article I have never heard about Dolly Madison before. I really sure that loosing her son and her husband to the same sickness was really hard for her. I think moving on really fast was a way to help her get over the deaths over two really important people in he life. the was a very brave big hearted person and with out her we would no have any of those painting that she saved.
Mario Sosa
With Dolly Madison being so well liked by the public, I wonder why none of the other 19th century first ladies (With the exception of Abigail Adams) are remembered? Really interesting article, but I felt like the ending could have been more fleshed out. I was also left wondering more about what became of Dolly after the British attacked the White House. Other than that, nice job on the article.
Zeresh Haman
I love this article. I didn’t know that Dolly Madison was married before she met James Madison, and I didn’t know that she had two sons. She really is a symbol of strength for women, I think that people forget that she saved a lot of important things from the white house, and was not afraid. She didn’t run when she saw the British, and i think that is important. Dolly Madison is someone that I think deserves a lot of credit for that work that she did as first lady.
Mariet Loredo
This was a great article, very informative. Before reading this I had never heard of Dolly Madison. I might of learned it in middle school but I don’t quite remember. Either way I learned a lot more about Dolly Madison by reading this article. It’s outstanding how she refused to leave the white house without the most valuable things from the White House. Because of that she saved the famous George Washington painting.
Maria Callejas
This was a great informative article! A total learning session, I had no idea how important Dolley Madison in the history of first ladies. Very good title, it directly relates to Dolley’s personality. She definitely understood the importance of preserving history, so for her to ignore the immediate threat imposed by the British just to save White House relics, truly depicts her fearless attitude. I am sure all former first ladies have seen Dolley Madison as a great example of what attitude to take in that position.
Carlos Aparicio
Along with many other people, I had not heard of Dolley Madison because of the lack of attention she had. But in reality, Dolley Madison is a hero to American History for her bravery and courage. I did not know that she was the wife of President James Madison. She is a hero for women all around the country for saving America’s most important valuables. I can see why she was respected by everyone for being Americas favorite First Lady.
Alejandra Mendez
Although I knew of Dolley Madison, I never knew much about her beyond the fact that she was the wife of James Madison. This article and her actions really do portray an important mark in history and should be taught and expressed alongside the presidents, when they are taught in history classes, as well. Something she thought was so minimal was very important in preserving history for the white house. I also didn’t know that she was viewed as one of the best first ladies for her kindness towards people. It would be great if all of those in the presidency, including their wives, thought the way and took action like she did.
Alondra Aviles
This article expresses the eloquence of a very strong female icon. Apart from her obvious beauty, she was a smart individual. Dolley Madison proved herself an icon when she entered the white house to save precious works of art and document. Unknowingly, she made a huge impact on the history we are provided with. The article was very well written. It described how she made an impact on White House history, providing more regulations and provided one of the most influential pieces of art. Her bravery and beliefs demonstrated her heroic and admirable qualities as a woman.
Josselyn Arrieta-Meraz
You always learn about the presidents in this case James Madison, but never put into importance or thought that these very much important man had lives, the fact that her name sounded familiar was what made this all more interesting, I wanted to know her significance in history, she was part of the president’s life, an influencer, she might seem insignificant but she definitely left a stance in the white house, she was one of the first lady, and she gained societies respect.