DOLLEY MADISON

By The Daily Progress Staff

Published: July 5, 2008

Dolley Madison was the first president’s wife to

be called first lady

attend an inauguration

hold an inaugural ball

Dolley Payne was born May 20, 1768, in Guilford County, N.C., though her family was originally from Virginia.

While living in Philadelphia, she met Quaker lawyer John Todd and they married in 1790. They had two sons, but in 1793 yellow fever took the life of Dolley’s husband and infant son. At 25 she was left a widow with a toddler to raise.

She married James Madison when she was 26 and he 43. They were seldom apart throughout their 41-year marriage.

When President Thomas Jefferson needed the aid of a hostess he fre-quently called on Dolley. She was renowned for her skills as a hostess, and her social graces helped soothe many a political quarrel.

During the War of 1812, she continued entertaining almost until Brit-ish troops had arrived at her door. The table was set for 40 the day she fled the White House.

In a letter to her sister composed before her departure, she wrote:  “I am accordingly ready; I have pressed as many cabinet papers into trunks as to fill one carriage; our private property must be sacrificed, as it is impossible to procure wagons for its transportation. I am determined not to go myself until I see Mr Madison safe, and he can accompany me, as I hear of much hostility towards him … Three O’clock. Will you believe it, my Sister? We have had a battle or skirmish near Bladensburg, and I am still here within sound of the cannon! Mr. Madison comes not; may God protect him!”

Before she would leave, she made certain that Gilbert Stuart’s famous portrait of George Washington had been secreted to safety. By the time she departed, even the soldiers assigned to protect the White House had fled.

When she died in 1849, she was given the largest state funeral to date. She was originally buried in the Congressional Cemetery, but was later moved to Montpelier and now rests next to her husband in the Madison Family Cemetery.

Sources: Montpelier, the White House and the University of Virginia