“Welcome back – I’m Thomas Jefferson and welcome back to another post of ‘Hail to the Chief.”
“This segment is dedicated to the life and times of our fourth President…”
“…my good friend and fellow Virginian, James Madison.”
BELLE GROVE – Located in Port Conway, Virginia, James Madison was born at Belle Grove Plantation on March 16, 1751. The original house where Madison was born no longer stands. The current Belle Grove house was built in 1790.
“The Belle Grove mansion behind me is now a Bed & Breakfast. This was as close as I was allowed to go for a photo with the home.”
INDEPENDENCE HALL – Built in 1753 in Philadelphia and originally called the Pennsylvania State House, Independence Hall was where the United States Constitution was debated, adopted, and signed on September 17, 1787.“James Madison and George Washington were the only two future Presidents to sign the United States Constitution.”
“On September 17, 1787, James Madison approached the table in the background and penned his signature onto the greatest vision of human freedom in history, the United States Constitution.”
“This artist’s illustration depicts a Constitutional Delegate signing the U.S. Constitution while George Washington looked on closely. James Madison was depicted wearing a green jacket and seated on the left side of the image.”
“On September 17, 1787, James Madison dipped his quill pen into this historic Syng Ink Stand and signed the United States Constitution.”
“Madison’s Virginia Plan was the blueprint for the Constitution, outlining the three branches of government – Executive, Legislative, and Judicial.Even though he was called the ‘Father of the Constitution’, Madison realized the new Constitution lacked rights for the people. A couple of years after the Constitution was signed, Madison began his quest for the Bill of Rights.”
FEDERAL HALL – The original Federal Hall was built in 1700 as New York City Hall; then it became the first U.S. Capitol Building. It was here, in 1791, where the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution were passed.“James Madison played a huge role in the Bill of Rights. He was the primary author and chief advocate for the amendments to the Constitution.”
CHIMNEY POINT STATE HISTORIC SITE – The tavern at Chimney Point, located in Vermont on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain, was built around 1785 on the grounds of a 1731 French fort that once occupied the site.
“Six years after the tavern was built, Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson and Congressman James Madison stayed at the tavern on May 31, 1791 during their tour of Upstate New York and New England.”
“Jefferson and Madison were accompanied by slaves James Hemings and Mathew. During their stay, Madison wrote: “On Crown Point is one family only. On the opposite side, the country is well inhabited.”
DOLLEY PAYNE TODD – Widowed at age 25, Dolley married 43-year-old James Madison at the age of 26. The couple exchanged wedding vows on September 15, 1794 at Harewood, Dolley’s sister’s home just outside of Charles Town, Virginia (now West Virginia). Four days after the small ceremony, the couple visited Madison’s sister Nelly at her home ‘Old Hall’ for two weeks; but Dolley suffered a recurring attack of malaria there.
UNITED STATES CAPITOL – After easily defeating Charles Pinckney in the 1808 Presidential election, James Madison took the Oath of Office on March 4, 1809 in the House of Representatives Chamber inside the Capitol. Madison also won a second term in the 1812 election by defeating DeWitt Clinton.
“During James Madison’s first inauguration ceremony held in the House of Representatives on March 4, 1809, Thomas Jefferson sat in the front row next to his friend and fellow Virginian.Madison was dressed in black when he delivered his first inaugural address. In that speech, the fourth President said he wanted to beef up and fund a strong military and militia; while at the same time defend the republic and the rights of the people.”
“On March 4, 1813, Madison was once again in the House of Representatives Chamber to take the Presidential Oath of Office.During his second inaugural address, Madison summarized American grievances against the British and he attempted to rally the nation around the war effort.”
THE WHITE HOUSE – James Madison lived in the White House as our fourth President from 1809 to 1817. During his Presidency, he and First Lady Dolley Madison were in the building when British soldiers invaded Washington during the War of 1812.“When the British set fire to the Capitol and White House in August 1814, James and Dolley were forced to evacuate the building.”
“During his two terms as President, I believe James Madison was bad luck – at least when it came to his Vice Presidents. In his first term, V.P. George Clinton died 3 years, 47 days after Madison took the Oath of Office in 1809.In term number two, V.P. Elbridge Gerry (a Signer of the Declaration of Independence) died just 1 year, 264 days into Madison’s second term.”
DOLLEY MADISON – At times, Dolley served as Thomas Jefferson’s White House hostess during his Presidency. But when her husband James took the Oath of Office, Dolley took the role by storm. She helped define official functions, Dolley decorated the Executive Mansion, and she was renowned for her social graces and hospitality. As official hostess of the White House, Dolley contributed to her husband’s popularity as President.
“When I stood in the East Wing of the White House, I thought about Dolley Madison and the moment she had her personal enslaved servant Paul Jennings remove the portrait of George Washington to keep it from being destroyed by the British invasion– and I’m not talking about The Beatles.”
“This painting depicted the chaotic moment when Washington’s portrait was saved from certain destruction.”
“When I look at this image, taken by my photographer inside the East Room of the White House, it’s as though I can see Dolley Madison and Paul Jennings scrambling to save the portrait of George Washington after British soldiers set the building on fire.I took a tour of the White House on May 15, 2019, but the East Room was closed that day. My photographer returned two days later for a second tour, but I wasn’t with him.”
“Bob Moldenhauer captured this image of my photographer in the East Room with the famous portrait of George Washington behind him.”
OCTAGON HOUSE – James and Dolley Madison lived in the Octagon House from September 1814 to March 1815 and used it as the Executive Mansion after the British burned the White House. “Also known as the Colonel John Tayloe III House, the building actually has only six sides and not eight; making it the Hexagon House.”
“During my first visit, on July 19, 2014, the Octagon House had already closed for the day; which was disappointing.”
“I also couldn’t see in through the windows, either. But with potential ghosts inside the most haunted building in Washington, maybe that was a good thing.”
“I heard this house was haunted, but I never saw Dolley Madison, nor either of Colonel John Tayloe’s daughters, running around.”
“There are limited days when the Octagon House is open for tours. During my second trip to Washington, I was able to go inside the historic mansion on May 17, 2019.”
“During my self-guided tour, I had the opportunity to stand on the first-floor dining room table.”
“A gambler allegedly had died in this room and his spirit has been reputed to haunt the room. Anyone for a game of cards?”
“I’m standing on the original staircase inside the Octagon House. These stairs have been the scene of numerous paranormal sightings over the years.”
“Now I’m standing on the fireplace mantel in the Master Bedroom, which was located on the second level of the home. This was the room where James and Dolley Madison slept while they lived here.”
“In this second-floor room, which was down the hall from the Master Bedroom, James Madison signed the Treaty of Ghent to end the War of 1812.”
“I am standing on the original table where James Madison signed the Treaty of Ghent on February 17, 1815.”
“President James Madison and his wife, Dolley, paid the Tayloe’s $500 for their six-month stay at the Octagon House.As I stood on the original wooden floor that was in the house when Madison lived there, it felt as though I was standing in our fourth President’s footsteps.”
ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH – In 1816, James Madison selected pew 28 for his private use. Since then, every President has at least been an occasional attendee; giving it the nickname “Church of the Presidents”.
“St. John’s is located in Lafayette Square, just north of the White House.”
“My first visit to the church in 2014 was because of Madison. My second time at St. John’s, in 2021, was due to Trump’s antics at the church a year earlier.”
MONTPELIER – Built around 1764 and located near Orange, Virginia, Montpelier was the boyhood home and then adult home of James Madison. The fourth President lived at the mansion on and off from 1764 until his death in 1836.
“When Madison’s second term as President was over on March 4, 1817, he retired to Montpelier with his wife Dolley. Can you see me standing on the huge porch?”
“When James Madison, Sr. moved his family to this plantation house, James Jr. was 13 years old.”
“Phase two of construction began at Montpelier in 1797 shortly after James brought his new wife Dolley to his mansion for the first time. They had remained in Philadelphia for the first three years of their marriage.”
“It was great to see the artwork in Madison’s Drawing Room, which was the room where he and Dolley entertained.”
“James and Dolley Madison’s portraits were on the bottom. But whose portrait was to the right of Jefferson? Is that Mary Magdalene?”
“During my time in the Drawing Room, I envisioned Madison as he played chess with his good friend Thomas Jefferson.”
“I’m standing on the original dining room table at Montpelier. Prominent dinner guests over the years at Montpelier included Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, Andrew Jackson, and Marquis de Lafayette.”
“Madison’s ‘Old Library’ was one of his favorite rooms and was added on to the house while he was President. Some of those books were originally owned by James Madison.”
“Madison loved books and maps, and those were abundant in the ‘Old Library’. But it was in this room, however, where the papers of James Madison were organized, including his notes from the Constitutional Convention.”
“In the spring and summer of 1786, Madison worked on his ‘Virginia Plan’ in the ‘New Library’. Those papers of self-governing were the blueprint for the U.S. Constitution.”
“The ‘New Library’ offered a magnificent view of the Western Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance.”
“I’m standing in the Madison’s upstairs Master Bedroom. The fireplace mantel was decorated with the goddess of fertility. That was ironic because James and Dolley never had any children together.”
“I’m standing in James Madison’s room where he spent the final days of his life.”
“On the morning of June 28, 1836, his favorite niece was in this room and asked him what was wrong because he had trouble eating.The 85-year-old Madison replied: “Nothing more than a change of mind, my dear.” Those were his last words; James Madison died in a bed similar to the one I’m standing alongside.”
MADISON FAMILY CEMETERY – Located at the end of a pathway, roughly a quarter mile west of Montpelier, this cemetery was where President James Madison and First Lady Dolley Madison were buried. There are roughly 36 gravestones inside the 70 by 90-foot enclosed burial ground.
“James Madison was laid to rest on June 29, 1836, which was the day after his death. The President was buried next to his mother, Nelly, whose tombstone is directly behind me.The President’s grave remained unmarked until September 1857 when the granite obelisk was erected over the site.”
“When Dolley Madison died on July 12, 1849 at the age of 81, her remains were placed in the Public Vault at Congressional Cemetery in Washington D.C.Although Dolley’s dying wish was to be buried by the side of her husband, that request was not fulfilled until January 1858.The final resting place of Dolley Madison was marked by the small granite obelisk located behind the President’s tombstone.”
“Had I fallen from this height, I would’ve likely been smashed beyond repair!”
“On May 11, 2019, my photographer and I visited the grave of James Madison together for the first and only time so far. In the near future, I hope to get back.”
“When I saw the grave of Dolley Madison in the corner of the burial ground, I wanted to shout out, “Nobody puts Dolley in the corner.”
“I found this statue of James and Dolley Madison near the Visitors Center at Montpelier.”
“I hope you enjoyed this post about James and Dolley Madison. Please leave a comment and let me know your thoughts. Stayed tuned for the upcoming post about our fifth President, James Monroe.”
My name is Thomas Watson and I've been a U.S. history fanatic since I was 9 years old. In 2013, I decided to take my passion to the next level when I purchased a Thomas Jefferson bobble head with the sole intention of photographing that bobble head at Presidential sites. From that first day on July 10, 2013 at Spiegel Grove in Fremont, Ohio, this journey has taken on a life of its own. Now, nearly 40,000 miles later, I thought it was time to share the experiences, stories, and photos of Jefferson's travels. Keep in mind, this entire venture has been done with the deepest respect for the men who held the office as our President; no matter what their political affiliations, personal ambitions, or public scandals may have been. This blog is intended to be a true tribute to the Presidents of the United States and this story will be told Through the Eyes of Jefferson. I hope you enjoy the ride!
