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James Madison
4th President of the United States

James Madison

1809-1817

Vice President (s): George Clinton (1809-12)
                                Elbridge Gerry (1813-14) 
Born:  March 16, 1751, in Port Conway, Virginia
Died:   June 28, 1836, at Montpelier, Virginia

Career/Occupation: Lawyer
Religion:  Episcopalian
Education:   Graduated from College of New Jersey (now Princeton University; 1771)
Political Party:  Democratic-Republican
Nickname(s):   "Father of the Constitution"
Other Government Positions:

• Member of Virginia Constitutional Convention, 1776
• Member of Continental Congress, 1780-83
• Member of Virginia Legislature, 1784-86
• Member of Constitutional Convention, 1787
• Member of U.S. House of Representatives, 1789-97
• Secretary of State, 1801-09 (under Jefferson)

Presidential Salary:  $25,000



Firsts: 

• First President to have served in the United States House of Representatives
• First President to ask Congress for a Declaration of War. 
• First President to serve as a war-time Commander-in-Chief. 
• First President to have an Inaugural ball. 
• First President to wear long trousers instead of knee breeches. 
• First President to issue a pocket veto. 
• First President to succeed another president without serving as vice president.
• First President to have the same vice president as his predecessor.
• First President to have a vice president die while in office. 
• First President to have two Vice Presidents (George Clinton and Elbridge Gerry) die in office.
• First President to have a parent live throughout his presidency