Road to Liberty: Dolley Madison

Dolley Madison, the fourth First Lady and wife of President James Madison, was known for her influence, determination, and energetic presence. A frequent entertainer, she helped shape the role of the First Lady from the earliest days of the presidency.  

Born in 1768 in North Carolina, Dolley Madison was raised in a Quaker family in both Virginia and Philadelphia. In 1790, she married John Todd, Jr., a lawyer—though tragically, her husband and baby son died of yellow fever in 1793. She and her only remaining son John survived. One year later, when she was 26, Dolley married James Madison, who was 17 years her senior. In 1801, when Madison was appointed by President Thomas Jefferson to be Secretary of State, they moved to Washington, D.C. Since Jefferson’s wife had died, Dolley helped co-host sophisticated White House events, keeping with the standards of European politicians. She also played a vital role in fundraising for the Lewis and Clark expedition. 

When James was elected president in 1808, Dolley began an illustrious tenure as First Lady: sponsoring the first inaugural ball and becoming the first wife of a president to formally associate herself with a public charity project, sponsoring the first ever home for orphaned girls in Washington, D.C. During the War of 1812, the British forces invaded Washington and set the White House on fire on August 24th, 1814. Dolley famously ordered the saving of historic documents, silver, and art—including a portrait of George Washington. 

Despite her Quaker background, Dolley enjoyed playing cards, dipping snuff, and embracing fashion trends. 

When Madison left the Presidency, he and Dolley returned to Montpelier. After his death, Dolley returned to Washington, D.C., where she remained a prominent figure in social and political circles and was the first private citizen to send a message through telegraph. In 1849, at age 81, Dolley Madison died.