Home » History » American Presidents » DOLLEY MADISON: AN AMERICAN ORIGINAL

DOLLEY MADISON: AN AMERICAN ORIGINAL

© John S. Cooper

For over a century, the greatest compliment you could pay a First Lady was to compare her favorably to Dolley Madison. She presided over the White House for 16 years, (serving as official White House hostess for widower Thomas Jefferson for eight years before her own eight years as First Lady), longer than any other First Lady, and continued to be a social leader in Washington until her death in 1849.

Dolley was born in Guilford County, North Carolina. She was the third child of a Quaker shopkeeper, and was brought up in the Society of Friends in Scotchtown, Virginia. It was her childhood among the "plain people" that probably led to the importance she placed on what she wore and on having a good time. From a childhood where extravagance had no place, she grew into a lady who ordered her clothes from Paris and was known to lose money at cards with a gracious smile.

Dolley married a Quaker Lawyer named John Todd, Jr. in 1790, and they had two sons together. John Todd and one of their sons died in 1793, leaving Dolley a widow with a son to support. She returned to her mother's boarding house, which she helped to run. Shortly after her return, Aaron Burr introduced her to James Madison. Within a year, they were married. Because she married someone outside the Society of Friends, she was expelled from the Quaker society.

Their long marriage was a great success, both personally and professionally. James complained if they had to be separated for even a short time. Dolley, referring to James short size but large intellect and stature, called him "the great little Madison."

Where as James could be witty and appealing in private, he was shy, reserved and disinterested in public. He declined to sit at the head of the table, preferring a less conspicuous seat where he could avoid playing the host. His guests frequently left believing that James had not even noticed them.

Dolley, on the other hand, was able to charm even her husband's opponents. She gave her lavish attention to all guests, friends and foes alike, making many friends and allies for her husband in the process. Presidential candidates were then nominated by Congressional caucuses rather than by national conventions as they are today. It was important not to slight a Congressman or his family in order to avoid losing their support, or incurring their revenge.

The copyright of the article DOLLEY MADISON: AN AMERICAN ORIGINAL in American Presidents is owned by . Permission to republish DOLLEY MADISON: AN AMERICAN ORIGINAL in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.