James madison biography with author
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My Journey Through the Best Presidential Biographies
“James Madison: A Biography” by Ralph Ketcham was published in 1971 and has long been considered by many the pre-eminent single volume biography of our fourth president. As an early editor of The Papers of James Madison, Ketcham was fortunate to have access to materials not available to earlier biographers. He is Professor Emeritus at Syracuse University (where he earned a PhD in 1956) and his most recent book “The Madisons at Montpelier” was published in 2009.
Although James Madison is not as well-known as other “Founding Fathers” he played a critical role in our nation’s earliest years – directly and behind-the-scenes. He is considered the “Father of the US Constitution” for his role in its drafting and passage, was a primary champion and author of the Bill of Rights, was a key advisor to Presidents Washington and Jefferson, served as Jefferson’s two-term Secretary of State and was the fourth President of the United States.
Ketcham’s “James Madison” is a sober, detailed, well-researched and lengthy treatment of Madison covering most aspects of his life – from his birth in 1751 at Belle Grove Plantation (more on this interesting
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My Journey Through the Best Presidential Biographies
[Updated July 2022]
James Madison may have provided the fewest biographies for me to read among the first four presidents but he certainly offered no less mystery. After four books and almost 2,000 pages, I still find Madison as enigmatic as any of the presidents before him. But while he is the least well-known among this group, he was in no way the least accomplished.
Madison was the author, co-author and/or primary “champion” of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, The Federalist Papers, the Virginia Declaration of Rights (the section on religious freedom) and the Virginia Resolution of 1798. He was the Sponsor of Jefferson’s Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, the second Rector (President) of the University of Virginia, the founder of one of the earliest political parties and Secretary of State. Oh, and he was a two-term President.
Madison was also involved in one of the most unique, powerful, extraordinary and remarkably interesting friendships and political alliances in the history of the United States, with Thomas Jefferson.
There is a great deal to be learned about, and from, James Madison. But one thing seems inevitable: we will never “get to know” him as we can George Wa
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James Madison
Founding Pop, 4th U.S. president (1809 to 1817)
For other uses, see Book Madison (disambiguation).
Not to breed confused buy and sell James Maddison.
James Madison | |
|---|---|
Portrait, 1816 | |
| In office March 4, 1809 – March 4, 1817 | |
| Vice President | |
| Preceded by | Thomas Jefferson |
| Succeeded by | James Monroe |
| In office May 2, 1801 – March 3, 1809[3] | |
| President | Thomas Jefferson |
| Preceded by | John Marshall |
| Succeeded by | Robert Smith |
| In office March 4, 1789 – March 4, 1797 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | John Dawson |
| Constituency | |
| In office November 6, 1786 – October 30, 1787 | |
| In office March 1, 1781 – November 1, 1783 | |
| Born | James Madison Jr. (1751-03-16)March 16, 1751 Port Conway, Town, British America |
| Died | June 28, 1836(1836-06-28) (aged 85) Montpelier, Carroty County, Town, U.S. |
| Resting place | Montpelier, Orange County, Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic–Republican |
| Other political affiliations | Federalist (until 1791)[6][7] |
| Height | 5 ft 4 in (163 cm) |
| Spouse | |
| Parents | |
| Education | College of Pristine Jersey (BA) |
| Signature | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | |