the best james madison biography

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The 10 Best Books on President James Madison

Essential books on james madison.

There are countless books on James Madison, and it comes with good reason, beyond being America’s fourth President (1809-1817), he made a major contribution to the ratification of the Constitution by writing The Federalist Papers, along with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay.

“Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors, must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives,” Madison contended . “A popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy or perhaps both”

Reading clearly played a profound role in molding James Madison as a person, and furthermore, this favorite educational activity of his must have had something to do with the spirited – and liberating for that matter – approach he took to life.

Therefore, in order to get to the bottom of what inspired one of America’s founding fathers to the height of societal contribution, we’ve compiled a list of the 10 best books on James Madison.

James Madison: A Life Reconsidered by Lynne Cheney

James Madison was a true genius of the early republic, the leader who did more than any other to create the nation we know today. This more recent biography published in 2015 tells his story.

Outwardly reserved, Madison was the intellectual driving force behind the Constitution. His visionary political philosophy – eloquently presented in the Federalist Papers – was a crucial factor behind the Constitution’s ratification, and his political savvy was of major importance in getting the new government underway.

As secretary of state under Thomas Jefferson, he managed the Louisiana Purchase, doubling the size of the United States. As president, Madison led the country in its first war under the Constitution, the War of 1812. Without precedent to guide him, he would demonstrate that a republic could defend its honor and independence while remaining true to its young constitution.

James Madison and the Making of America by Kevin R. C. Gutzman

Instead of an idealized portrait of Madison, Gutzman treats readers to the flesh-and-blood story of a man who often performed his founding deeds in spite of himself: Madison’s fame rests on his participation in the writing of  The Federalist Papers  and his role in drafting the Bill of Rights and Constitution. Today, his contribution to those documents is largely misunderstood. He thought that the Bill of Rights was unnecessary and insisted that it not be included in the Constitution, a document he found entirely inadequate and predicted would soon fail.

In so many ways, the contradictions both in Madison’s thinking and in the way he governed foreshadowed the conflicted state of our Union now. His greatest legacy – the disestablishment of Virginia’s state church and adoption of the libertarian Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom – is often omitted from discussion of his career. Yet, understanding the way in which Madison saw the relationship between the church and state is key to understanding the real man.

The Last of the Fathers by Drew R. McCoy

James Madison survived longer than any other member of the most remarkable generation of political leaders in American history. Born in the middle of the eighteenth century as a subject of King George II, the Father of the United States Constitution lived until 1836, when he died a citizen of Andrew Jackson’s republic. For over forty years he played a pivotal role in the creation and defense of a new political order.

He lived long enough to see even that Revolutionary world transformed, and the system of government he had nurtured threatened by the disruptive forces of a new era that would ultimately lead to civil war. In recounting the experience of Madison and several of his legatees who witnessed the violent test of whether his republic could endure, McCoy dramatizes the actual working out in human lives of critical cultural and political issues.

Becoming Madison by Michael Signer

This gem among books on James Madison takes a fresh look at the life of our fourth president before he turned thirty-six, the years in which he did his most enduring work: battling with Patrick Henry – the most charismatic politician in revolutionary America, whose political philosophy and ruthless tactics eerily foreshadowed those of today’s Tea Party – over religious freedom; becoming the intellectual godfather of the Constitution; and providing a crucial role at Virginia’s convention to ratify the Constitution in 1788, when the nation’s future hung in the balance.

Signer’s young James Madison is a role model for the leaders so badly needed today: a man who overcame daunting personal issues (including crippling anxiety attacks) to battle an entrenched and vicious status quo. Michael Signer’s brilliant analysis of “Madison’s Method,” the means by which Madison systematically destroyed dangerous ideas and left in their stead an enduring and positive vision for the United States, is wholly original and uniquely relevant today.

The Three Lives of James Madison by Noah Feldman

Noah Feldman offers an intriguing portrait of this elusive genius and the constitutional republic he created – and how both evolved to meet unforeseen challenges. Madison hoped to eradicate partisanship yet found himself giving voice to, and institutionalizing, the political divide. His lifelong loyalty to Thomas Jefferson led to an irrevocable break with George Washington, hero of the American Revolution. He closely collaborated with Alexander Hamilton on the Federalist papers – yet their different visions for the United States left them enemies.

Madison predicted that foreign threats would justify the curtailment of civil liberties. He feared economic inequality and the power of financial markets over politics, believing that government by the people demanded resistance to wealth. Finally, he was the first Founding Father to recognize the importance of public opinion, and the first to understand that the media could function as a safeguard to liberty.

Founding Friendship by Stuart Leibiger

Although the friendship between George Washington and James Madison was eclipsed in the early 1790s by the alliances of Madison with Jefferson and Washington with Hamilton, their collaboration remains central to the constitutional revolution that launched the American experiment in republican government. Washington relied heavily on Madison’s advice, pen, and legislative skill, while Madison found Washington’s prestige indispensable for achieving his goals for the new nation.

Observing Washington and Madison in light of their special relationship, Leibiger argues against a series of misconceptions about the two men. Madison emerges as neither a strong nationalist of the Hamiltonian variety nor a political consolidationist; he did not retreat from nationalism to states’ rights in the 1790s, as other historians have charged. Washington, far from being a majestic figurehead, exhibits a strong constitutional vision and firm control of his administration.

Madison’s Gift by David O. Stewart

Short, plain, balding, neither soldier nor orator, low on charisma and high on intelligence, James Madison cared more about achieving results than taking the credit. Forming key partnerships with Washington, Jefferson, Monroe, and his wife Dolley, Madison achieved his lifelong goal of a self-governing constitutional republic.

But it was his final partnership that allowed Madison to escape his natural shyness and reach the greatest heights. Dolley was the woman he married in middle age and who presided over both him and an enlivened White House. This partnership was a love story, a unique one that sustained Madison through his political rise, his presidency, and a fruitful retirement.

In  Madison’s Gif t , David O. Stewart’s “insights are illuminating…He weaves vivid, sometimes poignant details throughout the grand sweep of historical events. He brings early history alive in a way that offers today’s readers perspective” ( Christian Science Monitor ).

James Madison: America’s First Politician by Jay Cost

How do you solve a problem like James Madison? The fourth president is one of the most confounding figures in early American history; his political trajectory seems almost intentionally inconsistent. He was both for and against a strong federal government. He wrote about the dangers of political parties in the Federalist Papers  and then helped to found the Republican Party just a few years later. This so-called Madison problem has occupied scholars for ages.

As Jay Cost shows in this incisive new biography published in 2021, the underlying logic of Madison’s seemingly mixed record comes into focus only when we understand him primarily as a working politician. Whereas other founders split their time between politics and other vocations, Madison dedicated himself singularly to the work of politics and ultimately developed it into a distinctly American idiom. He was, in short, the first American politician.

American Compact by Gary Rosen

In a study that combines penetrating textual analysis with deep historical awareness, Gary Rosen stakes out important ground by showing the philosophical consistency in Madison’s long and controversial public life. The key, he argues, is Madison’s profound originality as a student of the social compact, the venerable liberal idea into which he introduced several novel, and seemingly illiberal, principles.

Foremost among these was the need for founding to be the work of an elite few. For Madison, prior accounts of the social compact, in their eagerness to establish the proper ends of government, provided a hopelessly naive account of its origin. As he saw it, the Federal Convention of 1787 was an opportunity for those of outstanding prudence (understood in its fullest Aristotelian sense) to do for the people what they could not do for themselves.

This troublesome reliance on the few was balanced, Rosen contends, by Madison’s commitment to republicanism as an end in itself, a conclusion that he likewise drew from the social compact, accommodating the proud political claims that his philosophical predecessors had failed to recognize.

Madison and Jefferson by Andrew Burstein

The third and fourth presidents have long been considered proper gentlemen, with Thomas Jefferson’s genius overshadowing James Madison’s judgment and common sense. But in this revelatory book about their crucial partnership, both are seen as men of their times, hardboiled operatives in a gritty world of primal politics where they struggled for supremacy for more than fifty years.

With a thrilling and unprecedented account of early America as its backdrop,  Madison and Jefferson reveals these founding fathers as privileged young men in a land marked by tribal identities rather than a united national personality. Esteemed historians Andrew Burstein and Nancy Isenberg capture Madison’s hidden role – he acted in effect as a campaign manager – in Jefferson’s career. In riveting detail, the authors chart the courses of two very different presidencies: Jefferson’s driven by force of personality, Madison’s sustained by a militancy that history has been reluctant to ascribe to him.

If you enjoyed this guide to the best books on James Madison, be sure to check out our list of 10 Books on President Franklin D. Roosevelt !

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James Madison

By: History.com Editors

Updated: March 22, 2022 | Original: October 29, 2009

James Madison (1751-1836) was a Founding Father of the United States and the fourth American president, serving in office from 1809 to 1817. An advocate for a strong federal government, the Virginia-born Madison composed the first drafts of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights and earned the nickname “Father of the Constitution.” 

In 1792, Madison and Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) founded the Democratic-Republican Party, which has been called America’s first opposition political party. When Jefferson became the third U.S. president, Madison served as his secretary of state. In this role, he oversaw the Louisiana Purchase from the French in 1803. During his presidency, Madison led the U.S. into the controversial War of 1812 (1812-15) against Great Britain. After two terms in the White House, Madison retired to his Virginia plantation, Montpelier, with his wife Dolley (1768-1849).

Early Years

James Madison was born on March 16, 1751, in Port Conway, Virginia , to James Madison Sr. and Nellie Conway Madison. The oldest of 12 children, Madison was raised on the family plantation, Montpelier, in Orange County, Virginia. At age 18, Madison left Montpelier to attend the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University).

Did you know? Montpelier, James Madison's Virginia plantation home, was established by his grandfather in 1723. An estimated 100 enslaved people lived at Montpelier when Madison owned it. The property was sold after this death. Today the estate, which covers some 2,600 acres, is open to the public.

After graduation, Madison took an interest in the relationship between the American colonies and Britain, which had grown tumultuous over the issue of British taxation. When Virginia began preparing for the American Revolutionary War (1775-83), Madison was appointed a colonel in the Orange County militia. Small in stature and sickly, he soon gave up a military career for a political one. In 1776, he represented Orange County at the Virginia Constitution Convention to organize a new state government no longer under British rule.

During his work in the Virginia legislature, Madison met lifelong friend Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), author of the Declaration of Independence and the third president of the United States. As a politician, Madison often fought for religious freedom, believing it was an individual’s right from birth.

In 1780, Madison became a Virginia delegate to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. He left Congress in 1783 to return to the Virginia assembly and work on a religious freedom statute, though he would soon be called back to Congress to help create a new constitution.

Father of the Constitution

After the colonies declared independence from Britain in 1776, the Articles of Confederation were created as the first constitution of the United States. The Articles were ratified in 1781 and gave most of the power to the individual state legislatures who acted more like individual countries than a union. This structure left the national Congress weak, with no ability to properly manage federal debt or maintain a national army.

Madison, after undertaking an extensive study of other world governments, came to the conclusion that America needed a strong federal government in order to help regulate the state legislatures and create a better system for raising federal money. He felt the government should be set up with a system of checks and balances so no branch had greater power over the other. Madison also suggested that governors and judges have enhanced roles in government in order to help manage the state legislatures.

In May 1787, delegates from each state came together at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, and Madison was able to present his ideas for an effective government system in his “Virginia Plan,” which detailed a government with three branches: legislative, executive and judicial. This plan would form the basis of the U.S. Constitution . Madison took detailed notes during debates at the convention, which helped to further shape the U.S. Constitution and led to his moniker: “Father of the Constitution.” (Madison stated the Constitution was not “the off-spring of a single brain,” but instead, “the work of many heads and many hands.”)

Ratifying the Constitution and the Bill of Rights

Once the new constitution was written, it needed to be ratified by nine of the 13 states. This was not an easy process, as many states felt the Constitution gave the federal government too much power. Supporters of the Constitution were known as Federalists , while critics were called Anti-Federalists.

Madison played a strong role in the ratification process and wrote a number of essays outlining his support for the Constitution. His writings, along with those penned by other advocates, were released anonymously under the title “The Federalist,” a series of 85 essays produced between 1787 and 1788. After extensive debate, the U.S. Constitution was signed by members of the Constitutional Convention in September 1787. The document was ratified by the states in 1788 and the new government became functional the following year.

Bill of Rights

Madison was elected to the newly formed U.S. House of Representatives , where he served from 1789 to 1797. In Congress, he worked to draft the Bill of Rights , a group of 10 amendments to the Constitution that spelled out fundamental rights (such as freedom of speech and religion) held by U.S. citizens. The Bill of Rights was ratified by the states in 1791.

In the new, more powerful Congress, Madison and Jefferson soon found themselves disagreeing with the Federalists on key issues dealing with federal debt and power. For example, the two men favored states’ rights and opposed Federalist leader Alexander Hamilton ’s (c. 1755-1804) proposal for a national bank, the Bank of the United States . 

In 1792, Jefferson and Madison founded the Democratic-Republican Party, which has been labeled America’s first opposition political party. Jefferson, Madison and James Monroe (1758-1831) were the only Democratic-Republicans ever to become U.S. presidents, as the party divided into competing factions in the 1820s.

Dolley Madison

Madison also had a new development in his personal life: In 1794, after a brief courtship, the 43-year-old Madison married 26-year-old Dolley Payne Todd (1768-1849), an outgoing Quaker widow with one son. Dolley’s personality contrasted sharply with that of the quiet, reserved Madison. She loved entertaining and hosted many receptions and dinner parties during which Madison could meet other influential figures of his time. During the couple’s 41-year marriage, Dolley Madison and James Madison were reportedly rarely apart.

James Madison, Secretary of State: 1801-09

Through the years, Madison’s friendship with Jefferson would continue to thrive. When Jefferson became the third president of the United States, he appointed Madison as secretary of state. In this position, which he held from 1801 to 1809, Madison helped acquire the Louisiana Territory from the French in 1803. The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of America.

In 1807, Madison and Jefferson enacted an embargo on all trade with Britain and France. The two European countries were at war and, angered by America’s neutrality, they had begun attacking U.S. ships at sea. However, the embargo hurt America and its merchants and sailors more than Europe, which did not need the American goods. Jefferson ended the embargo in 1809 as he left office.

James Madison, Fourth President and the War of 1812

In the presidential election of 1808, Madison defeated Federalist candidate Charles Cotesworth Pinckney (1745-1825) to become the nation’s fourth chief executive. Madison continued to face problems from overseas, as Britain and France had continued their attacks on American ships following the embargo. In addition to impeding U.S. trade, Britain took U.S. sailors for its own navy and began supporting American Indians in battles against U.S. settlers.

In retaliation, Madison issued a war proclamation against Britain in 1812. However, America was not ready for a war. Congress had not properly funded or prepared an army, and a number of the states did not support what was referred to as “Mr. Madison’s War” and would not allow their militias to join the campaign. Despite these setbacks, American forces attempted to fight off and attack British forces. The U.S. met defeat much of the time both on land and at sea, but its well-built ships proved to be formidable foes.

As the War of 1812 continued, Madison ran for re-election against Federalist candidate DeWitt Clinton (1767-1828), who was also supported by an anti-war faction of the Democratic-Republican Party, and won. Despite the victory, Madison was often criticized and blamed for the difficulties stemming from the war. Trade stopped between the U.S. and Europe, hurting American merchants once again. New England threatened secession from the Union. The Federalists undermined Madison’s efforts; and Madison was forced to flee Washington, D.C., in August 1814 as British troops invaded and burned buildings, including the White House , the Capitol and the Library of Congress .

Finally, weary from battle, Britain and the U.S. agreed to negotiate an end to the war. The Treaty of Ghent was signed in December 1814 in Europe. Before word of the peace agreement reached America, a major victory for U.S. troops at the Battle of New Orleans (December 1814-January 1815) helped shine a positive light on the controversial war. Though the war was mismanaged, there were some key victories that emboldened the Americans. Once blamed for the errors in the war, Madison was eventually hailed for its triumphs.

Final Years

After two terms in office, Madison left Washington, D.C., in 1817, and returned to Montpelier with his wife. Despite the challenges he encountered during his presidency, Madison was respected as a great thinker, communicator and statesman. He remained active in various civic causes, and in 1826 became rector of the University of Virginia, which was founded by his friend Thomas Jefferson. Madison died at Montpelier on June 28, 1836, at the age of 85, from heart failure.

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Early life and political activities

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• Table Of Contents

What is James Madison best known for? 

James Madison created the basic framework for the U.S. Constitution and helped write the Bill of Rights . He is therefore known as the Father of the Constitution. He served as the fourth U.S. president , and he signed a declaration of war against Great Britain , starting the War of 1812 . 

Besides creating the basic outline for the U.S. Constitution , James Madison was one of the authors of the Federalist papers . As secretary of state under Pres. Thomas Jefferson , he oversaw the Louisiana Purchase . He and Jefferson founded the Democratic-Republican Party . After leaving the presidency, he wrote the Virginia Resolutions opposing the Alien and Sedition Acts . 

What was James Madison’s education?

James Madison was privately educated before attending the College of New Jersey, which became Princeton University , where he studied classical languages, mathematics , rhetoric , geography , and philosophy as well as Hebrew and political philosophy .

How did James Madison get into politics?

James Madison was elected to Virginia ’s 1776 Revolutionary convention, where he drafted a guarantee of religious freedom. He was later appointed to the Virginia Council of State, and in 1780 he was elected as the youngest member of the Continental Congress .

James Madison (born March 16 [March 5, Old Style], 1751, Port Conway, Virginia [U.S.]—died June 28, 1836, Montpelier, Virginia, U.S.) was the fourth president of the United States (1809–17) and one of the Founding Fathers of his country . At the Constitutional Convention (1787), he influenced the planning and ratification of the U.S. Constitution and collaborated with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay in the publication of the Federalist papers . As a member of the new House of Representatives , he sponsored the first 10 amendments to the Constitution , commonly called the Bill of Rights . He was secretary of state under President Thomas Jefferson when the Louisiana Territory was purchased from France . The War of 1812 was fought during his presidency.

Madison was born at the home of his maternal grandmother. The son and namesake of a leading Orange county landowner and squire, he maintained his lifelong home in Virginia at Montpelier, near the Blue Ridge Mountains . In 1769 he rode horseback to the College of New Jersey ( Princeton University ), selected for its hostility to episcopacy. He completed the four-year course in two years, finding time also to demonstrate against England and to lampoon members of a rival literary society in ribald verse. Overwork produced several years of epileptoid hysteria and premonitions of early death, which thwarted military training but did not prevent home study of public law , mixed with early advocacy of independence (1774) and furious denunciation of the imprisonment of nearby Dissenters from the established Anglican church. Madison never became a church member, but in maturity he expressed a preference for Unitarianism .

His health improved, and he was elected to Virginia’s 1776 Revolutionary convention, where he drafted the state’s guarantee of religious freedom. In the convention-turned-legislature he helped Thomas Jefferson disestablish the church but lost reelection by refusing to furnish the electors with free whiskey. After two years on the governor’s council, he was sent to the Continental Congress in March 1780.

Five feet four inches tall and weighing about 100 pounds, small boned, boyish in appearance, and weak of voice, he waited six months before taking the floor, but strong actions belied his mild demeanour. He rose quickly to leadership against the devotees of state sovereignty and enemies of Franco-U.S. collaboration in peace negotiations, contending also for the establishment of the Mississippi as a western territorial boundary and the right to navigate that river through its Spanish-held delta. Defending Virginia ’s charter title to the vast Northwest against states that had no claim to western territories and whose major motive was to validate barrel-of-rum purchases from Indian tribes, Madison defeated the land speculators by persuading Virginia to cede the western lands to Congress as a national heritage.

Following the ratification of the Articles of Confederation in 1781, Madison undertook to strengthen the Union by asserting implied power in Congress to enforce financial requisitions upon the states by military coercion. This move failing, he worked unceasingly for an amendment conferring power to raise revenue and wrote an eloquent address adjuring the states to avert national disintegration by ratifying the submitted article. The chevalier de la Luzerne, French minister to the United States , wrote that Madison was “regarded as the man of the soundest judgment in Congress.”

James Madison

The fourth U.S. president, James Madison believed in a robust yet balanced federal government and is known as the "Father of the Constitution."

(1751-1836)

Who Was James Madison?

Born on March 16, 1751, in Port Conway, Virginia, Madison grew up in Orange County, Virginia. He was the oldest of 12 children, seven of whom lived to adulthood. His father, James, was a successful planter and owned more than 3,000 acres of land and dozens of slaves. He was also an influential figure in county affairs.

In 1762, Madison was sent to a boarding school run by Donald Robertson in King and Queen County, Virginia. He returned to his father's estate in Orange County, Virginia — called Montpelier — five years later. His father had him stay home and receive private tutoring because he was concerned about Madison's health. He would experience bouts of ill health throughout his life. After two years, Madison finally went to college in 1769, enrolling at the College of New Jersey — now known as Princeton University. There, Madison studied Latin, Greek, science and philosophy among other subjects. Graduating in 1771, he stayed on a while longer to continue his studies with the school's president, Reverend John Witherspoon.

Revolutionary Times

Returning to Virginia in 1772, Madison soon found himself caught up in the tensions between the colonists and the British authorities. He was elected to the Orange County Committee of Safety in December 1774 and joined the Virginia militia as a colonel the following year. Writing to college friend William Bradford, Madison sensed that "There is something at hand that shall greatly augment the history of the world."

The learned Madison was more of a writer than a fighter, though. And he put his talents to good use in 1776 at the Virginia Convention, as Orange County's representative. Around that time, he met Jefferson, and the pair soon began what would become a lifelong friendship. When Madison received an appointment to serve on the committee in charge of writing Virginia's constitution, he worked with George Mason on the draft. One of his special contributions was reworking some of the language about religious freedom.

In 1777, Madison lost his bid for a seat in the Virginia Assembly, but he was later appointed to the Governor's Council. He was a strong supporter of the American-French alliance during the revolution, and solely handled much of the council's correspondence with France. In 1780, he went to Philadelphia to serve as one of Virginia's delegates to Continental Congress.

In 1783, Madison returned to Virginia and the state legislature. There, he became a champion for the separation of church and state and helped get Virginia's Statute of Religious Freedom, a revised version of a document penned by Jefferson in 1777, passed in 1786. The following year, Madison tackled an even more challenging government composition—the U.S. Constitution.

Father of the Constitution

In 1787, Madison represented Virginia at the Constitution Convention. He was a federalist at heart, thus campaigned for a strong central government. In the Virginia Plan, he expressed his ideas about forming a three-part federal government, consisting of executive, legislative and judicial branches. He thought it was important for this new structure to have a system of checks and balances, in order to prevent the abuse of power by any one group.

While many of Madison's ideas were included in the Constitution, the document itself faced some opposition in his native Virginia and other colonies. He then joined Alexander Hamilton and John Jay in a special effort to get the Constitution ratified, and the three men wrote a series of persuasive letters that were published in New York newspapers, collectively known as The Federalist papers. Back in Virginia, Madison managed to outmaneuver such Constitution opponents as Patrick Henry to secure the document's ratification.

Congressman and Statesman

In 1789, Madison won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, a legislative body that he had helped envision. He became an instrumental force behind the Bill of Rights, submitting his suggested amendments to the Constitution to Congress in June 1789. Madison wanted to ensure that Americans had freedom of speech, were protected against "unreasonable searches and seizures" and received "a speedy and public trial" if faced with charges, among other recommendations. A revised version of his proposal was adopted that September, following much debate.

While initially a supporter of President George Washington and his administration, Madison soon found himself at odds with Washington over financial issues. He objected to the policies of Secretary of Treasury Hamilton, believing that these plans lined the pockets of wealthy northerners, and was detrimental to others. He and Jefferson campaigned against the creation of a central federal bank, calling it unconstitutional. Still, the measure was passed by 1791. Around this time, the longtime friends abandoned the Federalist Party and created their political entity, the Democratic-Republican Party.

Eventually tiring of the political battles, Madison returned to Virginia in 1797 with his wife Dolley. The couple had met in Philadelphia in 1794 and married that same year. She had a son named Payne from her first marriage, who Madison raised as his own, and the couple retired to Montpelier. (Madison would officially inherit the estate after his father's death in 1801.) But Madison didn't stay out of government for long.

In 1801, Madison joined the administration of his longtime friend, Jefferson, serving as President Jefferson's secretary of state. He supported Jefferson's efforts in expanding the nation's borders with the Louisiana Purchase, and the explorations of these new lands by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark .

One of Madison's greatest challenges played out on the high seas, with U.S. ships coming under attack. Great Britain and France were at war again, and American vessels were caught in the middle. Warships from both sides routinely stopped and seized American ships to prevent Americans from trading with the enemy. And the American crewmembers were forced into service for these feuding foreign powers. After diplomatic efforts failed, Madison campaigned for the Embargo Act of 1807, which prohibited American vessels from traveling to foreign ports and halted exports from the United States. Hugely unpopular, this measure proved to be an economic disaster for American merchants.

Running on the Democratic-Republican ticket, Madison won the 1808 presidential election by a wide margin. He defeated Federalist Charles C. Pinckney and Independent Republican George Clinton, securing nearly 70 percent of the electoral votes. It was a remarkable victory, considering the poor public opinion of the Embargo Act of 1807.

One challenge of Madison's first term was growing tensions between the United States and Great Britain. There had already been issues between the two countries over the seizure of American ships and crews. The Embargo Act was repealed in 1809, and a new act reduced the trade embargo down to two countries: Great Britain and France. This new law, known as the Non-Intercourse Act, did nothing to improve the situation. American merchants disregarded the act and traded with these nations anyway. As a result, American ships and crews were still preyed upon.

In Congress, a group of vocal politicians started to call for a war against the British. These men, sometimes known as "War Hawks," included Henry Clay of Kentucky and John Calhoun of South Carolina. While Madison worried that the nation couldn't effectively fight a war with Great Britain, he understood that many American citizens would not stand for these continued assaults on American ships much longer.

The United States declared war on Britain in June 1812. While his own party supported this move, Madison faced opposition from the Federalists, who nicknamed the conflict "Mr. Madison's War." In the early days of the war, it was apparent that the U.S. Navy was outmatched by British forces. Madison still managed to win the presidential election a few months later, beating out New York City Mayor DeWitt Clinton.

The War of 1812, as it is now known, dragged on into Madison's second term. The conflict took a dark turn in 1814 when British forces invaded Maryland. As they made their way to Washington, Madison and his government had to flee the capital. British soldiers burned many official buildings once they reached Washington that August. The White House and the Capitol building were among the structures destroyed.

The following month, U.S. troops were able to stop another British invasion in the North. And Andrew Jackson , though his soldiers were outnumbered, achieved an impressive victory over the British in the Battle of New Orleans in 1815. Both sides agreed to end the conflict later that year, with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent.

Final Years

Leaving office in 1817, Madison and Dolley retired once again to Montpelier. Madison kept himself busy by running the plantation and serving on a special board to create the University of Virginia, with the help of Jefferson. The school opened in 1825, with Jefferson as its rector. The following year, after Jefferson's death, Madison assumed leadership of the university.

In 1829, Madison briefly returned to public life, serving as a delegate to the state's Constitutional Convention. He was also active in the American Colonization Society, which he had co-founded in 1816 with Robert Finley, Jackson and James Monroe . This organization aimed to return freed slaves to Africa. In 1833, Madison became the society's president.

Madison died on June 28, 1836, at the Montpelier estate. After his death, his 1834 message, "Advice to My Country," was released. He had specifically requested that the note not be made public until after his passing. In part of his final political comment, he wrote: "The advice nearest to my heart and deepest in my convictions is that the Union of the States be cherished and perpetuated. Let the open enemy to it be regarded as a Pandora with her box opened; and the disguised one, as the Serpent creeping with his deadly wiles into Paradise."

Regarded as a small, quiet intellectual, Madison used the depth and breadth of his knowledge to create a new type of government. His ideas and thoughts shaped a nation and established the rights that Americans still enjoy today.

QUICK FACTS

• Name: James Madison
• Birth Year: 1751
• Birth date: March 16, 1751
• Birth State: Virginia
• Birth City: Port Conway
• Birth Country: United States
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: The fourth U.S. president, James Madison believed in a robust yet balanced federal government and is known as the "Father of the Constitution."
• U.S. Politics
• Astrological Sign: Pisces
• College of New Jersey (now Princeton University)
• Death Year: 1836
• Death date: June 28, 1836
• Death State: Virginia
• Death City: Orange County (Montpelier)
• Death Country: United States

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CITATION INFORMATION

• Article Title: James Madison Biography
• Author: Biography.com Editors
• Website Name: The Biography.com website
• Url: https://www.biography.com/political-figures/james-madison
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• Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
• Last Updated: May 10, 2021
• Original Published Date: April 3, 2014
• The advice nearest to my heart and deepest in my convictions is that the Union of the States be cherished and perpetuated.
• The man who is possessed of wealth, who lolls on his sofa, or rolls in his carriage, cannot judge of the wants or feelings of the day laborer.
• Man who preys both on the vegetable and animal species, is himself a prey to neither.
• Freedom of emigration is due to the general interests of humanity.
• Conscience is the most sacred of all property; other property depending in part on positive law, the exercise of that, being a natural and unalienable right.
• Charity is no part of the legislative duty of the government.
• Of all the enemies to public liberty, war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every other.
• No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare.
• In the papal system, government and religion are in a manner consolidated, and that is found to be the worst of governments.
• Rulers who wished to subvert the public liberty, may have found an established clergy convenient auxiliaries. A just government instituted to secure and perpetuate it needs them not.
• If men were angels, no government would be necessary.
• Justice is the end of government. It is the end of civil society. It ever has been and ever will be pursued until it be obtained, or until liberty be lost in the pursuit.
• As a man is said to have a right to his property, he may be equally said to have a property in his rights.

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James Madison: Life in Brief

Like his close friend Thomas Jefferson, James Madison came from a prosperous family of Virginia planters, received an excellent education, and quickly found himself drawn into the debates over independence. In 1776, he became a delegate to the revolutionary Virginia Convention, where he worked closely with Thomas Jefferson to push through religious freedom statutes, among other liberal measures. The youngest member of the Continental Congress, Madison was small in stature. His soft spoken, shy demeanor was a foil for his brilliant persistence in advocating his political agenda. Madison emerged as a respected leader of the congress, known for his hard work and careful preparation.

Leader of Political Battles

Believing that the Articles of Confederation rendered the new republic subject to foreign attack and domestic turmoil, James Madison helped set the wheels in motion for a national convention to draft the young nation's Constitution. Madison led the Virginia delegation to the Philadelphia meeting, which began on May 14, 1787, and supported the cry for General Washington to chair the meeting. Madison's "Virginia Plan" became the blueprint for the constitution that finally emerged, eventually earning him the revered title, "Father of the Constitution." Having fathered the document, Madison worked hard to ensure its ratification. Along with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, he published the Federalist Papers, a series of articles arguing for a strong central government subject to an extensive system of checks and balances.

Elected to the House of Representatives in 1789, Madison served as Washington's chief supporter. In this capacity, he fulfilled a promise to Thomas Jefferson, introducing the Bill of Rights, a constitutional guarantee of civil liberties. As Washington continued to move closer to Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton's Federalist vision of a strong central government that promoted commercial and financial interests over agrarian interests, Madison broke with Washington, joining Jefferson to form the opposition party of Democratic-Republicans. During John Adams's presidency, Madison led the Republican fight against the Alien and Sedition Acts, which attempted to quell Republican opposition to Federalist foreign policy toward France. Madison authored the Virginia Resolutions, which declared the laws unconstitutional. Under Thomas Jefferson, Madison served as secretary of state, supporting the Louisiana Purchase and the embargo against Britain and France. Indeed, Madison shaped foreign policy during Jefferson's administration, emerging from behind the scenes in 1808 to succeed him as the fourth President of the United States.

It was not at all clear that Madison would carry the day. Jefferson's embargo of all trade with Britain and France had devastated the nation. New England states spoke of open secession from the Union. The Federalists, convinced they would ride national outrage to victory, re-nominated their 1804 contender, Charles C. Pinckney of South Carolina. Meanwhile, George Clinton, who had agreed to run as Madison's vice president, also consented to run for President! Madison swamped the opposition, winning 122 votes to Pinckney's 44. His reelection was also dramatic. Madison's nomination for a second term came just fifteen days prior to his war message to Congress, listing American grievances against Britain. Congress voted the United States into the War of 1812, largely guaranteeing Madison's reelection.

Second War of Independence

The War of 1812 amounted to a second war of independence for the new republic, and quickly helped Madison's popularity. Much of the War of 1812 centered on bloody battles against the Native American tribes that were aided by the British, such as the Creek tribe led by the notorious Tecumseh, who was finally defeated by General William Henry Harrison. In 1814 the British took the nation's new capital, torching the White House and other federal buildings. They were finally defeated at the epic battle of New Orleans by General Andrew Jackson's ragtag army, many of whom were volunteers, including free blacks and slaves, and nearly 1,000 French pirates! The victories against Tecumseh and at New Orleans revitalized the nation and earned him the esteem of his constituents. Madison's critics, who organized the Hartford Convention to protest his policies, looked like traitors to the victorious nation; their anti-war criticism further weakened the Federalist Party.

Life of Surprises

Everyone was shocked when the shy and reticent James Madison announced his marriage to the vivacious Dolley Payne Todd, who became one of the most popular and vibrant First Ladies to ever grace the White House. Dolley Madison was already familiar with her role in Washington, since she had occassionally served as Jefferson's hostess during his administration. A beautiful woman who enjoyed a party, Dolley Madison quickly earned a reputation among conservatives and political enemies, who criticized her for gambling, wearing make-up, and using tobacco. Dolley was hurt by her critics, but was gratified to keep her popularity and public acclaim long after her husband had left office.

Despite Madison's popularity and his outstanding achievements, he has traditionally been misjudged in the past as a less-than-spectacular President. Recently, however, historians have begun to pay more attention to Madison, seeing his handling of the war as similar to Lincoln's war-time management. Madison's government marshaled resources, faced down secessionist threats from New England and proved to the British the folly of fighting wars with the Americans. He established respect for American rights on the high seas, and emerged from the war with more popular support than when he was first inaugurated in 1808. Additionally, when considering the fact that he ended up on the winning side of every important issue that faced the young nation from 1776 to 1816, Madison was the most successful—and possibly the most influential—of all the founding fathers.

J.C.A. Stagg

Professor of History University of Virginia

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James Madison

James Madison was born on March 16, 1751, in Port Conway, Virginia, to James Madison Sr. and Nelly Conway. After his birth, the family returned to the Madison estate in Orange County, Virginia.  At an early age, his mother was responsible for Madison's education. Nelly taught Madison essential reading and writing. At ten years old, Madison's parents sent him to a boarding school where he gained an early education and learned six languages (English, Spanish, French, Italian, Latin, and Greek). After attending the boarding school, James Madison studied under Scottish enlightenment thinker Thomas Martin. Under Martin, Madison learned enlightenment ideals and read philosophers including John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, and Montesquieu. Following his teacher's footsteps, Madison enrolled in the College of New Jersey, known today as Princeton University. While in school, the President of the University, John Witherspoon, invited Madison to study the Enlightenment further and learn the Hebrew language. After graduating with a bachelor's in art, Madison returned home to Montpelier in 1772 at the age of 21. While at home, Madison began to explore career paths, including law, farming, and politics. James Madison Sr, the head of the Orange County Committee of Safety, began taking Madison to local government meetings. While attending meetings with his father, he developed his love for public service and politics.  

In 1775, the American Revolution began with the firing at Lexington and Concord . The colony of Virginia called men to arms, including James Madison. Due to his finances and education, James was granted the title of colonel in the Orange County militia. Madison often suffered from health issues, including mental exhaustion and heightened anxiety; therefore, his service was brief. In 1776, Madison left the militia to serve in the Fifth Virginia Convention. While at the convention, Madison was responsible for creating Virginia's first Constitution and contributing to the Virginia Declaration of Rights. The Virginia Declaration of Rights allowed the colony to declare the inherent rights of men and the ability to reform and abolish government. While working alongside primary author George Mason, Madison added the importance of religious freedom to the document. Stating that men had "equal entitlement" to religion instead of "mere tolerance." The ratification of the Virginia Declaration of Rights aided Madison's election to the Virginia House of Delegates, where he met longtime friend and political ally Thomas Jefferson. Later that year, the Declaration of Independence was signed, officially declaring the colonies free from Great Britain. Madison continued to serve as a Virginia delegate and supported pro-revolution policies. He continued to work as a delegate and participated in debates and policymaking regarding the Articles of Confederation . 

The Articles of Confederation aimed to create a new form of government to create unity among the colonies. Ratified in 1781, the Articles became the first official form of government for the United States. As Madison served in the Second Continental Congress , he met fellow delegates, including Alexander Hamilton . The pair often discussed the government's flaws and what changes needed to be made for success. After gaining additional support, the pair hosted a convention in Annapolis, Maryland, to discuss necessary changes for the Articles. Unfortunately, only a few delegates attended the Annapolis Convention causing Madison to reach out to George Washington for assistance. When Madison returned to Virginia, he stopped a Mount. Vernon convinced Washington that a new government was necessary for the United States' survival. Washington agreed, and congress set a date for the Constitutional Convention. In 1787, Madison arrived in Philadelphia along with his fellow Virginia delegates George Washington , George Mason, and Edmond Randolph. 

During the Constitutional Convention , Madison introduced the Virginia Plan, a plan for a strong central government and three branches that serve under a checks and balances system. After Madison presented the Virginia Plan, William Patterson brought forward the New Jersey plan. Madison worked together with his fellow delegates to compromise the two plans. For the Constitution to be accepted by the American government, two-thirds of the 13 states had to ratify the document. Working together, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay convinced their fellow delegates of the absolute necessity of a new government through a series of essays titled the Federalist Papers. Each paper's goal was to support the Constitution and provide clarity for the future of America. James Madison wrote twenty-nine out of eighty-five Federalist essays, aiding the ratification of the Constitution. Madison's contributions to the Constitution included adding religious freedom to the First Amendment and editing the first nine amendments, which later became the Bill of Rights . Madison also kept detailed notes of the meeting to allow future historians to understand the complexity of the Constitutional Convention. Due to these contributions, Madison gained the nicknames Father of the Constitution and the Architect of the Bill of Rights. 

On June 21, 1788, The Constitution was officially ratified, making George Washington the first President of the United States. Madison continued to work in politics, including writing George Washington’s inaugural address and becoming a member of the House of Representatives. During Washington’s presidency, Madison and Jefferson developed the Democratic-Republican party, which opposed Alexander Hamilton and John Adams ' Federalists . In 1794, James Madison met Dolley Payne Todd in Philadelphia; the pair quickly fell in love and married in Virginia. The couple lived together at Montpelier until 1801 when Thomas Jefferson was elected as the third president. Madison was appointed as Secretary of State and was a considerable influence within Jefferson’s cabinet. During his time as Secretary of State, he was involved with the landmark Supreme Court Case, Mulberry. Vs. Madison , which established the power of judicial review and aided with the Louisiana Purchase . During the later years of the Jefferson administration, Madison was deeply involved with the Embargo Act of 1807. The act attempted to stop British impressment and confront the British after the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair. After serving as Secretary of State, Madison ran for President in 1808 against John Randolph and was victorious.  

During Madison’s presidency, Warhawks led by Henry Clay and John Calhoun pushed war with the British. On June 1, 1813, Madison asked Congress to declare war on the British. Many groups opposed the War of 1812 , including the Northern States, due to its effects on the commercial market. Despite opposition, the government saw the north as access to British Canada and attempted to take Canada multiple times throughout the war but failed. Throughout the war, Madison gained popularity when he rode out to battle to support the troops and reassured the country when the White House was burning during the Battle of Bladensburg . The Treaty of Ghent was negotiated and signed on February 16, 1815, establishing the war as inconclusive. Due to the United States’ resilience and victories like the Battle of New Orleans , the American people considered the war a United States victory. In 1817, Madison retired from the White House and returned home with Dolley to Montpelier. He continued to visit fellow allies, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe. During his retirement, the Madisons translated his notes from the Constitutional Convention to sell to Congress when he died. James Madison died on June 28, 1836, at 85, as the United States last remaining founding father. 

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The L⁠i⁠fe and Legacy of James Mad⁠i⁠son

By: Guest Author / 2017

Editor's Note: This article orginally appeared on Florida Verve.

The strongest passions and most dangerous weaknesses of the human breast; ambition, avarice, vanity, the honorable or venal love of fame, are all in conspiracy against the desire and duty of peace.

— James Madison

Among the Founding Fathers, James Madison has received less attention from historians than some of his contemporaries have received. The principal architect of the Constitution, co-author of the Federalist Papers, and author of the Bill of Rights has often been overshadowed by the likes of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams.

Indeed, Madison lacks the military honors and the Cincinnatus reputation of Washington, he did not possess the reckless zeal and charisma of the enigmatic Jefferson, nor did Madison have the unflinching political brashness of Adams.

On the surface, Madison was not even suited for politics. He was physically frail, nervous, and shy — and his voice was shrill. During an age in which fiery baroque oratory was revered, Madison wasn’t an imposing public speaker.

Yet for too long history has oversimplified the image of Madison, reducing him to a bookish, diminutive political theorist and tactician, better behind the scenes than out on the political stage, a mere sidekick to some of the most influential Founding Fathers.

During his lifetime, however, Madison was one of the most respected and revered political figures. His political ally and confidant, Thomas Jefferson, considered him “the greatest man in the world.” Even his political rivals issued praise, with John Adams having said, Madison “has acquired more glory, and established more union, than all his three predecessors — put together.”

In 1776, Virginia adopted “God bestowed upon us this leisure” as its state motto, reflecting the belief of the landed gentry and political elite of the Old Dominion that it was their divine right to live a life of pleasure filled with horse racing, fox hunting, dancing, drinking, socializing, etc. Though a scion of Virginia tobacco planters from the state’s famed Piedmont region, Madison chose not to pursue the aforementioned lifestyle. Additionally, while descendants of the Virginia gentry traditionally attended the College of William and Mary, Madison headed north to the College of New Jersey, a.k.a. Princeton University. Following a period of intense study that allowed him to graduate in two years but also detrimentally affected his physical well-being, Madison returned home in a state of depression and poor health.

Though Madison ultimately survived to 85 years of age, outliving all other Founding Fathers, repetitive bouts of illness left him infirm throughout his life. In particular, according to Lynne Cheney in her bookJames Madison: A Life Reconsidered, he was prone to “sudden attacks, somewhat resembling epilepsy,” which historians in the past dismissed as “epileptoid hysteria.” However, based on new research and the opinions of many medical experts, modern historians claim that, to the contrary, Madison wasn’t some manic hypochondriac. In fact, Madison did, indeed, suffer from a mild form of epilepsy.

Despite Madison’s era being dubbed the Age of Enlightenment, medicine lagged in the period. Medical books from that era read as if penned by sorcerers, and fundamentalist Biblical interpretations led many people to believe sufferers of neurological diseases, such as Madison, were possessed by demons.

Some modern historians now argue that Madison’s personal experienceas a victim of this kind of religious thought was quite probably the catalyst that propelled him into the political arena on the side of religious tolerance as he sought to defend Baptists in Virginia from Anglican persecution.

As a politician, Madison was a rare amalgam–humble, scholarly, pragmatic, shrewd, and productive. And, unlike many of his political contemporaries, he kept both his passion and ego in check. According to Lynne Cheney, “Thomas Jefferson believed that Madison’s reserve had held him back when he first began his political career.” And yet, in a span of three decades, Madison did the following: guided Virginia through rebellion and independence, designed and implemented the Constitution, led the campaign for its adoption as co-author of the Federalist Papers, authored the Bill of Rights, and formed the Democratic-Republican Party with Jefferson.

The key for Madison was the correlation between education and liberty. He famously wrote, “Learned Institutions ought to be favorite objects with every free people. They throw light over the public mind, which is the best security against crafty and dangerous encroachments on the public liberty.”

Furthermore,he was known as a voracious reader with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. Nowhere was this better displayed than in Madison’s actions during the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787 and during the subsequent campaign for its ratification. In fact, Madison’s preparation for his leadership role at the Constitutional Convention had begun, unbeknownst to him, a year earlier at his home, Montpelier, in Orange County, Virginia.

He was supplied with “literary cargo” sent from Paris by his friend Thomas Jefferson. It included numerous books about the rise and fall of ancient confederations, a topic of great interest as Madison began his research on different forms of government. That research would eventually lead to the design of the United States Constitution inwhich the powers of the federal government are limited and enumerated.

After the convention delegates left Philadelphia, the future of a newly drafted Constitution was still in doubt. Madison, along with John Jay and Alexander Hamilton, understood that the key to ratification would be educating the public. The three men wrote 85 essays, of which Madison composed 29, espousing the virtues of the Constitution. They were published in newspapers in New York.

Despite these efforts, compromise – more specifically a balance of power between large states and small states — was still needed, and Madison returned to Virginia to continue the struggle. And it was in Virginia, in 1789 that Madison, as a member of U.S. House of Representatives, proposed the first 10 amendments to the Constitution. Known as the Bill of Rights, they ensure the protection of individual liberty.

Madison was not just a bookish political philosopher from a gentrified background, who as luck would have it, was born during a revolutionary time. To discover the real James Madison is to uncover the origins of our Democratic-Republic, for no other Founding Father did more to ensure the survival and longevity of our individual liberties and self-government.

Source Credits: James Madison: A Biography by Ralph Ketcham, James Madison: A Life Reconsidered by Lynne Cheney

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James Madison (March 16, 1751–June 28, 1836) served as America's 4th president, navigating the country through the War of 1812 . Madison was known as the "Father of the Constitution," for his role in its creation, and a man who served during a key time in the development of America. 

Fast Facts: James Madison

• Known For : America's 4th president and the "Father of the Constitution"
• Born : March 16, 1751 in King George County, Virginia
• Parents : James Madison, Sr. and Eleanor Rose Conway (Nelly), m. September 15, 1749
• Died: June 28, 1836 in Montpelier, Virginia
• Education : Robertson's School, College of New Jersey (which would later become Prrinceton University)
• Spouse : Dolley Payne Todd (m. September 15, 1794)
• Children : One stepson, John Payne Todd

James Madison was born on March 16, 1751, the eldest child of James Madison, Sr., a plantation owner, and Eleanor Rose Conway (known as "Nelly"), the daughter of a wealthy planter. He was born at his mother's stepfather's plantation on the Rappahannock River in King George County, Virginia, but the family soon moved to James Madison Sr.'s plantation in Virginia. Montpelier, as the plantation would be named in 1780, would be Madison Jr.'s home for most of his life. Madison had six brothers and sisters: Francis (b. 1753), Ambrose (b. 1755), Nelly (b. 1760), William (b. 1762), Sarah (b. 1764), Elizabeth (b. 1768); the plantation also held more than 100 enslaved persons.

The earliest education of James Madison, Jr. was at home, probably by his mother and grandmother, and at a school located on his father's plantation. In 1758, he began attending the Robertson School, run by Scottish tutor Donald Robertson, where he studied English, Latin, Greek, French, and Italian, as well as history, arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and geography. Between 1767 and 1769, Madison studied under the rector Thomas Martin, who was hired by the Madison family for that purpose.

Madison attended the College of New Jersey (which would become Princeton University in 1896) from 1769–1771. He was an excellent student and studied a range of subjects, including oratory, logic, Latin, geography, and philosophy. Perhaps more importantly, he made close friendships at New Jersey, included the American poet Philip Freneau, writer Hugh Henry Brackenridge, lawyer and politician Gunning Bedford Jr., and William Bradford, who would become the second attorney general under George Washington.

But Madison grew ill in college, and stayed in Princeton after he graduated until April 1772, when he returned home. He was sickly most of his life, and modern scholars believe he likely suffered from epilepsy.

Early Career

Madison didn't have a vocation when he left school, but he soon became interested in politics, an interest perhaps stirred but at least fed by his continuing correspondence with William Bradford. The political situation in the country must have been exhilarating: his zeal for freedom from Britain was very strong. His first political appointment was as a delegate to the Virginia Convention (1776), and then he served in the Virginia House of Delegates three times (1776–1777, 1784–1786, 1799–1800). While in the Virginia house, he worked with George Mason to write Virginia's constitution; he also met and established a lifelong friendship with Thomas Jefferson .

Madison served on the Council of State in Virginia (1778–1779) and then became a member of the Continental Congress (1780–1783).

Father of the Constitution

Madison first called for a Constitutional Convention in 1786, and when it was convened in 1787 he wrote most of the U.S. Constitution , which outlined a strong federal government. Once the Convention ended, he, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton together wrote the " Federalist Papers ," a collection of essays that were intended to sway public opinion to ratifying the new Constitution. Madison served as a U.S. Representative from 1789–1797.

On September 15, 1794, Madison married Dolley Payne Todd, a widow and socialite who set the pattern for the behavior of White House first ladies for centuries to come. She was a well-liked hostess throughout Jefferson's and Madison's time in office, holding convivial parties with both sides of the Congress in attendance. She and Madison had no children, although John Payne Todd (1792–1852), Dolley's son from her first marriage, was raised by the couple; her son William had died in the 1793 yellow fever epidemic that killed her husband.

In response to the Alien and Sedition Acts , in 1798 Madison drafted the Virginia Resolutions , a work that was hailed by anti-federalists. He was secretary of state under President Thomas Jefferson from 1801–1809.

Embargo Act and the Presidency

By 1807, Madison and Jefferson became alarmed at increasing reports on upheavals in Europe suggesting that Britain would soon go to war with Napoleon's France. The two powers declared war and demanded that other nations needed to commit to a side. Since neither the Congress nor the administration were ready for all-out war, Jefferson called for an immediate embargo on all American shipping. That, said Madison, would protect American vessels from almost certain seizure, and deprive European nations of a needed trade that might force them to allow the U.S. to remain neutral. Passed on December 22, 1807, the Embargo Act would soon prove unpopular, an unpopularity that eventually led to U.S. involvement in the War of 1812.

In the 1808 election, Jefferson supported Madison's nomination to run, and George Clinton was chosen to be his vice president . He ran against Charles Pinckney, who had opposed Jefferson in 1804. Pinckney's campaign centered around Madison's role with the Embargo Act; nevertheless, Madison won 122 of the 175 electoral votes .

Negotiating Neutrality

Early in 1808, Congress replaced the Embargo Act with the Non-Intercourse Act, which allowed the U.S. to trade with all nations except France and Great Britain because of the attacks on American shipping by those two nations. Madison offered to trade with either nation if it would stop harassing American ships. However, neither agreed.

In 1810, Macon's Bill No. 2 was passed, repealing the Non-Intercourse Act and replacing that with a promise that whichever nation would stop harassing American ships would be favored and the U.S. would stop trading with the other nation. France agreed to this and the British continued to stop American ships and impress sailors.

By 1811, Madison easily won the renomination for the Democratic-Republicans, despite being opposed by DeWitt Clinton. The campaign's main issue was the War of 1812, and Clinton attempted to appeal to both those for and against the war. Madison won with 128 out of 146 votes.

War of 1812: Mr. Madison's War

When Madison started his second administration, the British were still forcibly attacking American ships, seizing their cargo, and impressing their sailors. Madison asked Congress to declare war: but support for it was far from unanimous. The war, sometimes called the Second War for Independence (because it resulted in the end of U.S. economic dependence on Britain), pitted a barely prepared U.S. against the well-trained force that was Great Britain.

On June 18, 1812, Madison signed a declaration of war against Great Britain, after Congress, for the first time in American history, voted to declare war against another nation.

America's first battle was a disaster called the Surrender of Detroit: The British, led by Major General Isaac Brock, and allies from Indigenous communities, led by the Shawnee leader Tecumseh, attacked the port city of Detroit on August 15–16, 1812. U.S. Brigadier General William Hull surrendered the town and fort, despite having a larger army. America fared better on the seas, and eventually retook Detroit. The British marched on Washington in 1814, and on August 23 they attacked and burned the White House. Dolley Madison famously stayed in the White House until she ensured that many national treasures were saved.

The New England Federalists met at the Hartford Convention in late 1814 to discuss pulling out of the war, and there was even talk of secession at the convention. But, on December 24, 1814, the U.S. and Great Britain agreed to the Treaty of Ghent, which ended the fighting but resolved none of the pre-war issues.

After his presidential term in office ended, Madison retired to his plantation in Virginia. However, he still stayed involved in political discourse. He represented his county at the Virginia Constitutional Convention (1829). He also spoke against nullification, the idea that states could rule federal laws unconstitutional. His Virginia Resolutions were often cited as a precedent for this but he believed in the strength of the union above all.

He took a leadership role in the formation of the University of Virginia, especially after Thomas Jefferson's death in 1826. Madison was also an enslaver—Montpelier had 118 enslaved people at one point—who helped found the notorious American Colonization Society to help resettle freed Black people in what would become Liberia, Africa.

Although Madison remained vigorous and active during his early retirement, beginning after his 80th birthday in 1829, he began to suffer from longer and longer spells of fever and rheumatism. Eventually he was confined to Montpelier, although he continued working when he could through the winter of 1835–1836. On June 27, 1836, he spent several hours writing a thank you note to George Tucker, who had dedicated his biography of Thomas Jefferson to him. He died the next day.

James Madison was in power at an important time. Even though America did not end the War of 1812 as the ultimate "victor," it did end with a stronger and independent economy. As the author of the Constitution, Madison's decisions made during his time as president were based on his interpretation of the document, and he was well-respected for that. In the end, Madison attempted to follow the Constitution and tried not to overstep the boundaries set before him as he interpreted them.

• Broadwater, Jeff. "James Madison: A Son of Virginia and a Founder of the Nation." Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2012.
• Cheney, Lynne. "James Madison: A Life Reconsidered." New York: Penguin Books, 2014.
• Feldman, Noah. The Three Lives of James Madison: Genius, Partisan, President. New York: Random House, 2017.
• Gutzman, Kevin R. C. "James Madison and the Making of America." New York, St. Martin's Press, 2012.
• Ketcham, Ralph. "James Madison: A Biography." University of Virginia, 1990. 
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U.S. Constitution.net

James Madison Biography

Early life and education.

James Madison was born into a prosperous Virginia family on March 16, 1751, at Belle Grove plantation. His upbringing afforded him educational opportunities that many of his contemporaries lacked. From the age of 11, under private tutors, Madison embarked on rigorous studies that spanned subjects like Latin, mathematics, and geography.

This early indulgence in a broad spectrum of subjects kindled within him a passion for learning, especially in the field of political philosophy. His penchant for the intellectual delights of ancient philosophy became evident through his scholastic achievements and debates at the College of New Jersey, now known as Princeton University.

In 1769, revealing a commitment to discontinue the legacy of ecclesiastical indoctrination favored by his kin and many Virginians, he selected Princeton primarily for its outlier views regarding religious prescripts. He completed a four-year course in just two years, a testament to his diligent disposition. Moreover, his college life was not merely a crucible for crunching literature but also a stage for actively protesting against British injustices.

Madison eventually returned to Virginia in 1772 with an enhanced understanding of the political theories that would later shape his contributions to the American constitutional frameworks and an evolving democratic ethos. During these formative years at Princeton, Madison became intimately involved with the emerging ideas of governance and law, which resonated deeply with his own principled perspectives on liberty and justice.

As young Madison stepped back into Virginia and into the realm of public service, the influence of his scholarly pursuits became apparent. By 1774, he was appointed as a member of the Orange County Committee of Safety. In this role, Madison's academic foundations in justice and order began to intersect with his operational mandates.

His logical prowess and command over continental philosophies came to further prominence at the 1775 Virginia Convention. Here, alongside other figures like George Washington and Patrick Henry, Madison delved into articulating rights and legislative processes that would govern a newly asserted commonwealth. His stance towards religious freedom particularly underscored his distaste for traditional constraints wielded by established churches—marking a defining aspect of his lifelong advocacy for religious liberty. 1

Political Beginnings and the Constitutional Convention

Just two years after his return to Virginia, Madison's imprint on American political history commenced with his election to the Virginia Legislature in 1776. During this period, his intellectual synergy with Thomas Jefferson bore significant fruit as the pair collaborated on progressive legislative reforms. Among these were the bold assertions made in the Virginia Declaration of Rights, an inspirational precursor to the broader Bill of Rights.

Madison's call for religious freedom was unabashed during his tenure in the legislature, which led him to battle against the marriage of church and state. 1779 saw him defeat Patrick Henry's bill that sought to tax citizens for the benefit of Christian teachers. This victory was emblematic of his commitment to protecting individual liberties against government encroachment—a hallmark principle that permeated his later contributions to federalism.

As a young statesman, Madison's acumen and leadership were not confined merely to local or state affairs. Prevalent discontents with the Articles of Confederation offered Madison a broader stage—the pivotal year of 1787, marking the convening of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. Armed with extensive preparation and a vision for a robust federal structure, Madison arrived with what would soon be known as the Virginia Plan.

Madison's proposal featured prominently at the convention, shaping the debate that ensued. The Virginia Plan, as conceived by Madison, proposed a new federal architecture discarding the relatively weaker confederal system. It advocated for a strong national government underpinned by a system of checks and balances, delineating powers across three branches—legislative, executive, and judicial. Madison's blueprint pushed for proportional representation in Congress, a contentious point that later morphed into the Three-Fifths Compromise through rigorous debates.

Throughout the prolonged discussions at the Constitutional Convention, Madison's role was central. His intellectual vigor and strategic acumen were instrumental in steering complex negotiation terrains amongst the delegates who arrived from divergent socio-political backgrounds. Known as "the Father of the Constitution," his advocacy, combined with political strategies, facilitated the retention of a strong centralized government albeit with critical compromises ensuring broad-based support.

The culmination of this exhaustive orchestration was the emergence of a ratified U.S. Constitution. A blend of visionary governance frameworks and pragmatic compromise, it embodied a multitude of ideas debated by Madison and his peers. The enduring document crafted in that summer in Philadelphia stood, not solely as a testament to Madison's political philosophy but also as a beacon of effective compromise essential for forging unity across diverse ideological landscapes.

The Federalist Papers and Ratification Debates

With the framework of the newly fashioned Constitution at hand, a critical task lay ahead: securing its ratification across the landscape of state politics, each with their own interests and apprehensions toward centralized power. As the debate for ratification intensified, Madison, alongside Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, embarked on a campaign to rally support through a series of essays known today as The Federalist Papers. This seminal work encapsulated the philosophical defenses and practical mechanisms of the proposed government structure, aiming primarily to solicit favor with New York, a pivotal state critical to achieving the broader national endorsement of the Constitution.

James Madison's contributions to The Federalist Papers were deeply rooted in his advocacy for a federal system—a political arrangement that represented a form of government; stabilizing yet vibrant, robust yet flexible. His essays, particularly numbers 10 and 51, offer an exploration of federalism and the separation of powers, concepts which are fundamental to the functioning of the U.S. government and the preservation of liberty.

In Federalist No. 10, Madison tackled the concern of factionalism, positing that a larger republic under the expansive federal system would be more capable of controlling the effects of factions than smaller, individual states. This broader governance model dilutes the power of any single faction to dominate, by extending the sphere of interest over which many factions must negotiate and compromise. Madison argued that the diversity inherent in a large republic acts as a safeguard against tyranny. 2

Federalist No. 51 expanded upon these ideas, elucidating Madison's view on the essence and efficacy of the separation of powers within the federal system. He analyzed how each branch of government – legislative, executive, and judicial – must be independent but equitably powerful to effectively balance one another. His dictum, " Ambition must be made to counteract ambition ," encapsulated his belief that the inherent desire for power would sustain the necessary balance within government structures, ensuring that no single branch could usurp total control. 3

These papers were strategic inducements meant for practical persuasion in support of ratification. They were crafted to reassure skeptics, lay plain the merits and safeguards of the proposed government, and solidify the philosophical underpinnings that would benefit and protect all states while emphasizing how the new federal system would operate without eviscerating state sovereignties.

As debates across states intensified, Madison's articulations and arguments laid out in The Federalist Papers proved increasingly pivotal, especially to undecided New Yorkers. His insights helped transmute apprehension into approval, drawing the line between fear of centralized power and the embrace of a union that provided sufficient national authority to govern effectively while ensuring substantial autonomy was preserved at the state level.

Over centuries, The Federalist Papers have continued to be hailed as articulations of constitutional thought. The essays remain cornerstone texts in the understanding and interpretations of the U.S. Constitution, frequently referenced both in scholarly exegeses and supreme judicial introspections. The enduring relevance of these papers reflects on their initial role in advocating for ratification and on their grasp of liberal democratic theory and praxis.

Presidency and Later Years

Entering the presidency in 1809, James Madison faced an array of domestic challenges and international turmoil. The most significant of these was the War of 1812, ignited by longstanding maritime grievances and territorial ambitions against British and Native American resistance up North. The war, often called the "Second War of Independence," was a testament to Madison's leadership and his belief in American sovereignty.

Madison's administration navigated these turbulent times with a dignity reflective of the founding principles he helped to establish. Although initially unprepared, Madison's government managed to end the war with the Treaty of Ghent in 1814, restoring peace and confirming American independence from British power politics. This event fortified national self-esteem and patriotic fervor that underscored Madison's presidency.

On the domestic front, Madison's tenure also marked significant developments in infrastructural expansion and economic policy. He presided over the chartering of the Second Bank of the United States, intended to stabilize the post-war American economy. This move illustrated his pragmatic adaptability in governance; though originally opposing such central financial institutions, he recognized their utility in establishing robust fiscal systems crucial for the expanding nation.

Madison's veto of federal public works funding—underlining his attention to constitutional limits—set a precedence for the discussion about the extent of federal government powers in internal improvements. Madison recommended that amendments be made to the Constitution to allow for such expenditures, thereby surrendering federal assistance for public infrastructure but insisting on strict constitutional adherence unless explicitly codified. His approach here reinforced a balanced view on states' rights versus federal authority, illustrating the continuous tug-of-war in American political life between decentralized liberty and necessary union.

After his presidency, Madison retired to his Virginia plantation, Montpelier, where he remained intellectually and politically active. His post-presidential years were characterized by efforts to refine and defend the constitutional order he had helped engineer. Madison's later years were marked by reflective correspondence and thought leadership, predominantly addressing the pressing issues of states' rights and the nature of the Union.

Throughout the divisive era marked notably by the Missouri Compromise in 1820 and escalating tensions over states' rights issues, Madison's writings provided balanced perspectives. He consistently advocated against both excessive expansive federal power and radical states' rights doctrines that threatened national disintegration.

His engagement at this stage echoed his dedication to a cohesive federal system where diversity within a republic could be seen as a reinforcement rather than a replication of disparity and division. His counsel frequently guided younger statesmen traversing the American constitutional panorama, enriched by his extensive experience.

Madison's integrity and principle-centered governance, engrained in the fabric of American political thought, remained vivid until his death on June 28, 1836. His vision for American democracy as a beacon of constitutional fidelity and civic virtue left indelible marks on the Republic. The poise and intellect James Madison brought to each role he held bolstered the foundational ethos of the United States to bequeath a resilient, adaptive political system robust enough to face centuries of growth and challenge.

Photo by libraryofcongress on Unsplash

The enduring legacy of James Madison, encapsulated through his pivotal role in drafting the U.S. Constitution, continues to resonate as a cornerstone of American democracy. His intellectual contributions during the Constitutional Convention remain a critical anchor in the ongoing discourse on liberty and governance.

• Ketcham R. James Madison: A Biography. Charlottesville, VA: University of Virginia Press; 1990.
• Madison J. The Federalist No. 10. The Federalist Papers. New York: New American Library; 1961.
• Madison J. The Federalist No. 51. The Federalist Papers. New York: New American Library; 1961.

Book Scrolling

Best Book Lists, Award Aggregation, & Book Data

The Best Books To Learn About President James Madison

(You can view the rest of our presidential Best Book lists by going to our Best US President Books page, or for a more in-depth look at how we found and ranked the books you can visit our Best Book About Every United States President  article.)

Happy Scrolling!

The Best Book About James Madison (Appears on 7 Lists)

James madison: a biography by ralph ketchem.

• At Times Dull
• Best Presidential Bios
• Library of Congress
• Mandi Lindner
• Presidents USA
• The Tailored Man
• The Washington Post

The best one volume biography of Madison’s life, Ketcham’s biography not only traces Madison’s career, it gives readers a sense of the man. As Madison said of his early years in Virginia under the study of Donald Robertson, who introduced him to thinkers like Montaigne and Montesquieu, “all that I have been in life I owe largely to that man.” It also captures a side of Madison that is less rarely on display (including a portrait of the beautiful Dolley Madison).

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#2-7 Books (Appear on 3 Lists Each)

American compact: james madison and the problem of founding by gary rosen.

• Jungle Find

For students of the early American republic, James Madison has long been something of a riddle, the member of the founding generation whose actions and thought most stubbornly resist easy summary. The staunchest of Federalists in the 1780s, Madison would turn on his former allies shortly thereafter, renouncing their expansive nationalism as a threat to the Constitution and to popular government.

James Madison by Garry Wills

• All The Presidents Books

Renowned historian and social commentator Garry Wills takes a fresh look at the life of James Madison, from his rise to prominence in the colonies through his role in the creation of the Articles of Confederation and the first Constitutional Congress.

James Madison by Richard Brookhiser

James Madison led one of the most influential and prolific lives in American history, and his story—although all too often overshadowed by his more celebrated contemporaries—is integral to that of the nation. Madison helped to shape our country as perhaps no other Founder: collaborating on the Federalist Papers and the Bill of Rights, resisting government overreach by assembling one of the nation’s first political parties (the Republicans, who became today’s Democrats), and taking to the battlefield during the War of 1812, becoming the last president to lead troops in combat.

James Madison and the Making of America by Kevin Gutzman

In James Madison and the Making of America, historian Kevin Gutzman looks beyond the way James Madison is traditionally seen — as “The Father of the Constitution” — to find a more complex and sometimes contradictory portrait of this influential Founding Father and the ways in which he influenced the spirit of today’s United States. Instead of an idealized portrait of Madison, Gutzman treats readers to the flesh-and-blood story of a man who often performed his founding deeds in spite of himself: Madison’s fame rests on his participation in the writing of The Federalist Papers and his role in drafting the Bill of Rights and Constitution. Today, his contribution to those documents is largely misunderstood. He thought that the Bill of Rights was unnecessary and insisted that it not be included in the Constitution, a document he found entirely inadequate and predicted would soon fail. Madison helped to create the first American political party, the first party to call itself “Republican”, but only after he had argued that political parties, in general, were harmful. Madison served as Secretary of State and then as President during the early years of the United States and the War of 1812; however, the American foreign policy he implemented in 1801-1817 ultimately resulted in the British burning down the Capitol and the White House. In so many ways, the contradictions both in Madison’s thinking and in the way he governed foreshadowed the conflicted state of our Union now. His greatest legacy―the disestablishment of Virginia’s state church and adoption of the libertarian Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom―is often omitted from discussion of his career. Yet, understanding the way in which Madison saw the relationship between the church and state is key to understanding the real man. Kevin Gutzman’s James Madison and the Making of America promises to become the standard biography of our fourth President.

James Madison: A Life Reconsidered by Lynne Cheney

Outwardly reserved, Madison was the intellectual driving force behind the Constitution. His visionary political philosophy—eloquently presented in the Federalist Papers—was a crucial factor behind the Constitution’s ratification, and his political savvy was of major importance in getting the new government underway. As secretary of state under Thomas Jefferson, he managed the Louisiana Purchase, doubling the size of the United States. As president, Madison led the country in its first war under the Constitution, the War of 1812. Without precedent to guide him, he would demonstrate that a republic could defend its honor and independence while remaining true to its young constitution.

The Last of the Fathers: James Madison & The Republican Legacy by Drew R. McCoy

James Madison survived longer than any other member of the most remarkable generation of political leaders in American history. Born in the middle of the eighteenth century as a subject of King George II, the Father of the United States Constitution lived until 1836, when he died a citizen of Andrew Jackson’s republic. For over forty years he played a pivotal role in the creation and defense of a new political order. He lived long enough to see even that Revolutionary world transformed, and the system of government he had nurtured threatened by the disruptive forces of a new era that would ultimately lead to civil war. In recounting the experience of Madison and several of his legatees who witnessed the violent test of whether his republic could endure, McCoy dramatizes the actual working out in human lives of critical cultural and political issues.

#8-13 (Appear on 2 Lists Each)

Becoming madison: the extraordinary origins of the least likely founding father by michael signer.

• Presidential History

Michael Signer takes a fresh look at the life of our fourth president. His focus is on Madison before he turned thirty-six, the years in which he did his most enduring work: battling with Patrick Henry—the most charismatic politician in revolutionary America, whose political philosophy and ruthless tactics eerily foreshadowed those of today’s Tea Party—over religious freedom; introducing his framework for a strong central government; becoming the intellectual godfather of the Constitution; and providing a crucial role at Virginia’s convention to ratify the Constitution in 1788, when the nation’s future hung in the balance.

Founding Friendship: George Washington, James Madison, and the Creation of the American Republic by Stuart Leibiger

James Madison by Irving Brant

Madison’s Gift: Five Partnerships that Built America by David O. Stewart

Short, plain, balding, neither soldier nor orator, low on charisma and high on intelligence, James Madison cared more about achieving results than taking the credit. Forming key partnerships with Washington, Jefferson, Monroe, and his wife Dolley, Madison achieved his lifelong goal of a self-governing constitutional republic. It was Madison who led the drive for the Constitutional Convention and pressed for an effective new government as his patron George Washington lent the effort legitimacy; Madison who wrote the Federalist Papers with Alexander Hamilton to secure the Constitution’s ratification; Madison who joined Thomas Jefferson to found the nation’s first political party and move the nation toward broad democratic principles; Madison, with James Monroe, who guided the new nation through its first war in 1812, and who handed the reins of government to the last of the Founders.

The Presidency of James Madison by Robert Allen Rutland

In this new study of the fourth presidency, distinguished historian Robert Allen Rutland paints a more complicated portrait. Rutland, former editor-in-chief of the Madison Papers, sees Madison as a bookish, practical statesman who worked furiously to avoid conflicts in his cabinet and in Congress. When he finally realized England would not be swayed by economic pressure, he boldly led the nation into a second war for independence that allowed the United States to emerge with a renewed sense of dignity and purpose.

The Sacred Fire of Liberty: James Madison and the Founding of the Federal Republic by Lance Banning

• http://amzn.to/2b4ytwm

#14-41 (Appear on 1 List Each)

A companion to james madison and james monroe by stuart leibiger.

A Companion to James Madison and James Monroe features essays from leading academics that consider various aspects of the lives and legacies of our fourth and fifth presidents.

American Revolutionaries in the Making by Charles S. Sydnor

Dolley Payne Todd Madison by Alice K. Flanagan

History of the United States During the Administrations of James Madison by Henry Adams

The library of America is dedicated to publishing America’s best and most significant writing in handsome, enduring volumes, featuring authoritative texts. Hailed as the finest-looking, longest-lasting editions ever made (The New Republic), Library of America volumes make a fine gift for any occasion. Now, with exactly one hundred volumes to choose from, there is a perfect gift for everyone.

James Madison and the Creation of the American Republic by Jack N. Rakove

In this biography, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jack Rakove examines the life and legacy of James Madison, one of the founding fathers of the United States.

James Madison and the Search for Nationhood by Robert Allen Rutland

James Madison and the Struggle for the Bill of Rights by Richard E. Labunski

James Madison: A Son of Virginia & a Founder of the Nation by Jeff Broadwater

James Madison is remembered primarily as a systematic political theorist, but this bookish and unassuming man was also a practical politician who strove for balance in an age of revolution. In this biography, Jeff Broadwater focuses on Madison’s role in the battle for religious freedom in Virginia, his contributions to the adoption of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, his place in the evolution of the party system, his relationship with Dolley Madison, his performance as a wartime commander in chief, and his views on slavery. From Broadwater’s perspective, no single figure can tell us more about the origins of the American republic than our fourth president.

James Madison: The Founding Father by Robert Allen Rutland

Available for the first time in paperback, James Madison: The Founding Father is a lively portrait of the man who essentially fathered our constitutional guarantees of civil and religious liberty. Focusing on the role Madison played at the Continental Congress and in each stage of the formation of the American Republic, Robert Allen Rutland also covers Madison’s relationship with his beloved wife, Dolley, his fifty-year friendship with Thomas Jefferson, and his years as a respected elder statesman after serving as secretary of state and fourth president of the United States.

James Madison: Writings by James Madison

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Rakove (history and American studies, Stanford U.) made the selections and supplies notes for this one-volume collection of Madison’s works. Arranged chronologically, it contains almost 200 documents written between 1772, the year after Madison’s graduation from Princeton, and his death in 1836. Included are all 29 of Madison’s contributions to The Federalist as well as speeches and letters that illuminate his role in framing and ratifying the Constitution. Also represented are early writings on religious freedom; correspondence with figures such as Washington, Jefferson, Hamilton, and Monroe; writings from his terms as secretary of state and president; and letters and essays written during retirement.

Jefferson and Madison: The Great Collaboration by Adrienne Koch

A remarkable and revealing account of two philosopher-statesmen who decisively influenced American ideas and principles.

John Randolph of Roanoke by Russell Kirk

For most of his public career Randolph was a leader of the opposition—to both Jeffersonians and Federalists. He was, writes Russell Kirk, “devoted to state rights, the agricultural interest, economy in government, and freedom from foreign entanglements.” Above all things Randolph cherished liberty, and he famously declared, “I love liberty; I hate equality.

John Witherspoon and the Founding of the American Republic by Jeffry H. Morrison

Jeffry H. Morrison offers readers the first comprehensive look at the political thought and career of John Witherspoon—a Scottish Presbyterian minister and one of America’s most influential and overlooked founding fathers. Witherspoon was an active member of the Continental Congress and was the only clergyman both to sign the Declaration of Independence and to ratify the federal Constitution. During his tenure as president of the College of New Jersey at Princeton, Witherspoon became a mentor to James Madison and influenced many leaders and thinkers of the founding period. He was uniquely positioned at the crossroads of politics, religion, and education during the crucial first decades of the new republic.

Liberty and Learning: The Essential James Madison by Philip Bigler

Although James Madison was intimately involved in the writing of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, served as Thomas Jefferson’s Secretary of State, and was a two-term President, contemporary Americans know so little about James Madison and his work, that he is often referred to as the forgotten founder. Liberty & Learning celebrates the 200th Anniversary of James Madison’s Presidency and provides a logical and compelling case that Madison is the most advanced political theorist in American History.

Madison and Jefferson by Andrew Burstein

The third and fourth presidents have long been considered proper and noble gentlemen, with Thomas Jefferson’s genius overshadowing James Madison’s judgment and common sense. But in this revelatory book, both leaders are seen as men of their times, ruthless and hardboiled operatives in a gritty world of primal politics where they struggled for supremacy for more than fifty years.

Madison’s War: Politics, Diplomacy, and Warfare in the Early American Republic, 1783-1830 by John Charles Anderson Stagg

Notes of Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787 by James Madison & Adrienne Koch

In this indispensable primary document, Madison not only provides detailed insights into one of the great events of our history, but clearly sets forth his own position on such issues as the balance of powers, the separation of functions, and the general role of the federal government. More than in the Federalist, which shows the carefully formalized conclusions of his political thought, we see in the Debates his philosophy in action, evolving in daily tension with the viewpoints of the other delegates. It is for this reason that theDebates are invaluable for placing in perspective the incomplete records of such well-known figures as Rufus King and Alexander Hamilton, and the constitutional plans of such men as Edmund Randolph and Charles Pinckney.

Parlor Politics: In Which the Ladies of Washington Help Build a City and a Government (Jeffersonian America) by Catherine Allgor

When Thomas Jefferson moved his victorious Republican administration into the new capital city in 1801, one of his first acts was to abolish any formal receptions, except on New Year’s Day and the Fourth of July. His successful campaign for the presidency had been partially founded on the idea that his Federalist enemies had assumed dangerously aristocratic trappings―a sword for George Washington and a raised dais for Martha when she received people at social occasions―in the first capital cities of New York and Philadelphia. When the ladies of Washington City, determined to have their own salon, arrived en masse at the president’s house, Jefferson met them in riding clothes, expressing surprise at their presence. His deep suspicion of any occasion that resembled a European court caused a major problem, however: without the face-to-face relationships and networks of interest created in society, the American experiment in government could not function.

Power Versus Liberty: Madison, Hamilton, Wilson, and Jefferson by James H. Read

The Authority of Publius: A Reading of the Federalist Papers by Albert Furtwangler

The Constitutional Convention: A Narrative History from the Notes of James Madison by James Madison

In 1787, the American union was in disarray. The incompatible demands of the separate states threatened its existence; some states were even in danger of turning into the kind of tyranny they had so recently deposed. A truly national government was needed, one that could raise money, regulate commerce, and defend the states against foreign threats–without becoming as overbearing as England. So thirty-six-year-old James Madison believed. That summer, the Virginian was instrumental in organizing the Constitutional Convention, in which one of the world’s greatest documents would be debated, created, and signed. Inspired by a sense of history in the making, he kept the most extensive notes of any attendee.Now two esteemed scholars have made these minutes accessible to everyone. Presented with modern punctuation and spelling, judicious cuts, and helpful notes–plus fascinating background information on every delegate and an overview of the tumultuous times–here is the great drama of how the Constitution came to be, from the opening statements to the final votes. This Modern Library Paperback Classic also includes an Introduction and appendices from the authors.

The Elusive Republic: Political Economy in Jeffersonian America (Published for the Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture, Williamsburg, Virginia) by Drew R. McCoy

By investigating eighteenth-century social and economic thought–an intellectual world with its own vocabulary, concepts, and assumptions–Drew McCoy smoothly integrates the history of ideas and the history of public policy in the Jeffersonian era. The book was originally published by UNC Press in 1980.

The Federalist by Jacob E. Cooke

The definitive edition of the historic essays by ALEXANDER HAMILTON, JAMES MADISON and JOHN JAY, fully annotated and reproduced from the original text.

The Federalist Papers by Alexander Hamilton & James Madison

Read this collection of essays, by Alexander Hamilton, that made him a founding father of the American nation. Go beyond the play, and read Hamilton’s words for yourself in this special edition. Welcome to the perfect study guide! This special edition contains edits specifically aimed at assisting readers in understanding the classic text, preparing students for examinations, or providing lesson plans for teachers. This book is ideal for readers in high school, college, or otherwise seeking an easier understanding of a classic text. Original additions include notes, lessons, and activities designed to foster understanding at key points in the story and at critical chapters. As an educator, I believe that older works of literature must be introduced into new generations. This belief has guided my editing of the original source material. Enjoy this classic piece of literature with an appreciation fostered by greater understanding and insight!

The Political Philosophy of James Madison by Garrett Ward Sheldon

Among the founders, James Madison wielded the greatest influence in drafting the Constitution of 1789. In this book, Garrett Ward Sheldon offers a concise synthesis of Madison’s political philosophy in the context of the social and political history of his day.

The Republic of Letters: The Correspondence Between Thomas Jefferson and James Madison by James Morton Smith

The collaboration began in 1776, when Jefferson and Madison met as members of the Virginia House of Delegates, and ended fifty years later, when Jefferson died. They exchanged nearly 1,250 letters, running the gamut from short notes (“Will you come and sit an hour before dinner to-day?” Jefferson scribbled to Madison in 1791) to Madison’s remarkable seventeen-page letter on the results of the Constitutional Convention.

The Transformation of Virginia, 1740-1790 by Rhys Isaac

In this Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Rhys Isaac describes and analyzes the dramatic confrontations–primarily religious and political–that transformed Virginia in the second half of the eighteenth century. Making use of the observational techniques of the cultural anthropologist, Isaac vividly recreates and painstakingly dissects a society in the turmoil of profound inner change.

The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom: Its Evolution and Consequences in American History (Cambridge Studies in Religion and American Public Life) by Merrill D. Peterson & Robert C. Vaughan

This book examines the famous Jefferson document that foreshadowed the Constitution’s guarantee of religious liberty, the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. Jefferson wrote the Virginia Statute and shepherded it through a decade-long struggle for adoption. The statute reflects two key Revolutionary principles: absolute freedom of religious conscience and the separation of church and state.

The Best James Madison Book Lists Consulted

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Tag Archives: James Madison

Reviews of “becoming madison: the extraordinary origins of the least likely founding father” by michael signer.

Becoming Madison: The Extraordinary Origins of the Least Likely Founding Father by Michael Signer 384 pages PublicAffairs Published: March 10, …

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Reviews of “Madison’s Gifts: Five Partnerships That Built America” by David Stewart

Madison’s Gifts: Five Partnerships That Built America by David O. Stewart 432 pages Simon & Schuster Published: February 10, 2015 …

Review of “James Madison and the Making of America” by Kevin Gutzman

“James Madison and the Making of America,” published in 2012, is author Kevin Gutzman’s fourth and most recent book.  He …

Review of “James Madison” by Richard Brookhiser

“James Madison” is Richard Brookhiser’s 2011 biography of our fourth president, and is the most recent of his dozen or …

Review of “Madison and Jefferson” by Andrew Burstein and Nancy Isenberg

“Madison and Jefferson” is the 2010 dual biography of our third and fourth presidents: their personalities, philosophies, presidencies and their …

Review of “James Madison: A Biography” by Ralph Ketcham

“James Madison: A Biography” by Ralph Ketcham was published in 1971 and has long been considered by many the pre-eminent …

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Jocelyn Nielson

Content creator, Story writer, Adventure seeker, Lifelong learner

Reviews · October 11, 2019

James Madison: A Biography by Ralph Ketcham Book Review

Note: Hi, when I review books, or anything really, I’m big on discussing what works and what doesn’t work. That often involves spoilers, and seriously I do mean  SPOILERS . If you’re not cool with that, that’s totally fine. I have a  spoiler-free  review that you can read  here  on  Goodreads . But if you’re cool with spoilers, then let’s sit back and chat about this book.

Note: This book is a part of my Presidential Book Challenge in honor of the 2020 Presidential Elections.

A Brief Summary

-Taken from Goodreads – The best one-volume biography of Madison’s life, Ketcham’s biography not only traces Madison’s career, it gives readers a sense of the man. As Madison said of his early years in Virginia under the study of Donald Robertson, who introduced him to thinkers like Montaigne and Montesquieu, “all that I have been in life I owe largely to that man.” It also captures a side of Madison that is less rarely on display (including a portrait of the beautiful Dolley Madison).

• Overall, I thought it was a decent read and I enjoyed it much more than my last presidential book.
• There was this absolutely incredible attention to detail (see side question section) throughout the book. I was impressed at how easily I found myself immersed in the words.
• The narrative flowed well, and while the tone of the writing often read as more academic, there was still enough of a story feel that I didn’t feel like I was reading someone’s thesis paper.

What May or May Not Work

• I will start off by saying that as the hard-copy version I was using was big and its text was small, visually it made any progress I made reading-wise feel less than what it was.
• While I was thoroughly satisfied with the majority of how James Madison’s life was presented, mainly from the creation of the Constitution through his presidency, I did feel that the narrative dragged a bit before and after those sections. They weren’t terrible to read and I did find interesting bits within them, they were just slow sections. Perhaps it was the anticipation of getting to the Constitution (and then to the completion of the book) that kept me from enjoying the full biography.

Honorable Mentions

• Lucy Washington’s marriage: “Lucy had apparently rejected Judge Todd along with her other suitors but, impulsively, after he had left for his home in Kentucky, she changed her mind and sent word for him to return to marry her; the wedding took place the following Sunday in the White House.” 
• William Henry Harrison (the 9th president)
• Davy Crockett (small shout out because it’s Davy freakin’ Crockett)
• Madison’s great-nephew (I’m pretty sure), who was born the year of his father’s death, became the personal physician of General Robert E. Lee after the Civil War 
• Also, this book was when I really realized that Andrew Jackson was the 7th president. I get it, why am I talking about a president who won’t serve for another 2 decades? But knowing that Andrew would be serving later on and seeing him in his younger years during the War of 1812 threw me for a loop because other than the founding fathers, I hadn’t really thought about what the other early presidents had been doing before they became president. Which now means I’ll be paying more attention to see how often the US presidents appear in each others’ books. 
• It sounds morbid (and it is) but I loved how James Madison’s death played out. “He was ready to die at his appointed hour, having rejected suggestions that he take stimulants to extend his life a few days so he could die on July 4, 1836, the sixtieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, just as Adams and Jefferson had died on its fiftieth anniversary and Monroe on its fifty-fifth.” And then when his appointed hour did come, “he seemed to have trouble swallowing, Mrs. Willis asked him what the trouble was. Jennings recalled that Madison replied, ‘nothing more than a change of mind,  my dear,’ and then ‘his head instantly dropped, and he ceased breathing as quietly as the snuff of a candle goes out.'”

Side Questions

• While I greatly appreciate now possessing the knowledge of the daily schedule of Princeton students in the 1750s, I must still ask why did I need to know? That bit of information probably isn’t going to help at my next trivia night. In fairness, a good deal was spent on understanding the educational background that led to James Madison being the best person to craft the Constitution, but was the daily schedule really that important?

Would I read this book again?

• I would recommend this book to those who want to know more about the 4th President of the United States, but I’m not sure I will be reading this book again. Maybe, maybe not, but I’ll certainly need a long break before I decide to tackle it again.

If you’ve read  James Madison ,  what are some of your thoughts? Share in the comments below!

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Sorry, there was a problem., james madison: a biography audible audiobook – unabridged.

• Book Description

The best one-volume biography of Madison’s life, Ketcham’s biography not only traces Madison’s career, it gives listeners a sense of the man. As Madison said of his early years in Virginia under the study of Donald Robertson, who introduced him to thinkers like Montaigne and Montesquieu, "all that I have been in life I owe largely to that man." It also captures a side of Madison that is less rarely on display.

"Madison's personality comes alive in these pages, his strengths and weaknesses of mind and character clearly outlined. His great services in the Constitutional Convention of 1787 are graphically portrayed. The analysis of his political theory, and of the way in which he sought to apply it to the establishment of of government under the Constitution, is excellent. The depiction of Jeffersonian and Madisonian foreign policy up to the outbreak of the War of 1812 is clear and succinct. This is an excellent biography." ( American Historical Review )

"Utilizing the vast amount of source material made available in the last 30 years, Ketcham has captured the essential man in his times and in doing so has made him understandable for us in our own day." ( Los Angeles Times )

"This single volume has provided a penetrating and highly readable biography which merits distinction as the best one-volume life of Madison yet written." ( Virginia Magazine of History and Biography )

• Listening Length 38 hours and 4 minutes
• Author Ralph Ketcham
• Narrator Bill Burrows
• Audible release date May 18, 2021
• Language English
• Publisher Upfront Books
• ASIN B094NYY6R7
• Version Unabridged
• Program Type Audiobook
• See all details

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James Madison

A biography, ralph ketcham.

• Author Bio(s)

The best one volume biography of Madison’s life, Ketcham’s biography not only traces Madison’s career, it gives readers a sense of the man. As Madison said of his early years in Virginia under the study of Donald Robertson, who introduced him to thinkers like Montaigne and Montesquieu, "all that I have been in life I owe largely to that man." It also captures a side of Madison that is less rarely on display (including a portrait of the beautiful Dolley Madison).

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James Madison : Biography & facts , reading comprehension, information text

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Biography : James Madison

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James Madison (1751-1836) was an American statesman, political theorist, and the fourth President of the United States. Known as the “Father of the Constitution,” Madison played a crucial role in drafting and promoting the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. He co-authored The Federalist Papers, advocating for the Constitution’s ratification. Serving as Secretary of State under Thomas Jefferson, he facilitated the Louisiana Purchase. As President (1809-1817), Madison led the nation through the War of 1812, which affirmed American independence. His legacy includes his contributions to the structure of American government and individual freedoms.

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James Maddison may never live his England dream – it’s all a matter of timing…

When he turns 29, one of the best Premier League playmakers of recent times will still never have kicked a ball at a major international tournament.

At the age of 24, James Maddison was overlooked for a place in England’s squad for the delayed Euro 2020. At 26 he travelled to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar but did not make it off the bench. This summer, at 27, he has been cut from Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad for Euro 2024 just days before the tournament begins.

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Taking a step back and looking at the numbers, it is not an easy decision to understand. Since Maddison’s Premier League debut in August 2018, no English player has provided more assists than his tally of 41. In the same timeframe, only Harry Kane (137), Raheem Sterling (104), Jamie Vardy (98), Marcus Rashford (97) and Callum Wilson (90) have notched more direct goal contributions (goals and assists combined) than Maddison’s 88. He is a natural creator, blessed with great vision and impressive set-piece delivery.

He racked up nine assists last season and created 67 chances. Those numbers might not sound too impressive but he only played 2,152 minutes — substantially fewer than his peers at the top of the rankings. By comparison, Cole Palmer had 11 assists and created 72 chances across 2,624 minutes for Manchester City and Chelsea .

Devastated doesn’t quite cut it. Trained well and worked hard all week but if I’m honest with myself, my form for Spurs when coming back from injury in the second half of the season probably wasn’t at the levels I had set which gave Gareth a decision to make. I still thought… pic.twitter.com/LwhIhCPDxS — James Maddison (@Madders10) June 6, 2024

Maddison has been an integral cog for Ange Postecoglou’s new-look Tottenham Hotspur , but it has not been enough. Southgate said this week that he was “spinning a lot of plates” with his squad selection issues and Maddison’s has smashed on the floor.

This scenario would have been unthinkable in the early months of the season. Following his £40million ($51m) move from Leicester City , Maddison boldly took up the No 10 shirt at Spurs that Kane had vacated when he joined Bayern Munich. After scoring three goals and providing five assists in his first nine league appearances — including two assists for Son Heung-min in September’s north London derby draw at Arsenal — nobody questioned Maddison’s status. He relished the responsibility of conducting Spurs’ attacks, as his new team soared to the top of the Premier League.

The turning point in Maddison’s season came when he suffered an ankle injury in a 4-1 defeat to Chelsea in November. Maddison missed two and a half months, and struggled to quickly rediscover the same rhythm when he returned. He only scored once in the final 17 matches of the season, although he did record four assists.

There were multiple occasions, including the 1-1 draw with West Ham United and the 3-2 defeat to Arsenal, when Spurs needed inspiration but Postecoglou still decided to substitute his most creative player. Maddison finished with four goals, his lowest total in a Premier League season. Maybe his off-colour performances would not have been so obvious if Tottenham had kept winning, but their results were inconsistent, shining an intense light on his form.

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The issue for Maddison is that his international rivals for an attacking midfield role have all had excellent campaigns. Palmer won the European Under-21 Championship with England 12 months ago and his progress has continued to accelerate. He was directly involved in more goals (33) than any other player in the Premier League and almost single-handedly dragged a dysfunctional Chelsea side into sixth place.

Breaking down the brilliance of Chelsea's Cole Palmer - 'Within one touch, he can hurt you'

Foden won multiple individual accolades, including Premier League Player of the Season, for his contributions to Manchester City’s title win. Eberechi Eze burst into life following Oliver Glasner’s appointment as Crystal Palace ’s head coach and helped them win six of their final seven games, chipping in with five goals and two assists during that run.

If Maddison was not going to start games, then Southgate’s rationale might be that Eze and Palmer are better options from the bench. Eze is a more dynamic dribbler who could cause havoc for tired legs in tense knockout games, while it is impossible to leave Palmer out on his form of recent months.

Maddison’s dip in form came at the worst possible time, yet the 27-year-old is still entitled to feel unlucky.

The numbers behind James Maddison's post-injury downturn

There are other players, including Ivan Toney , who have endured difficult campaigns but managed to sneak in. Toney scored four times in his first five games after returning in January from an eight-month ban for breaching the Football Association’s betting rules, but his performances have been underwhelming since. His last goal for Brentford came in February, although he did convert a penalty and showed flashes of brilliance in England’s 2-2 draw with Belgium a month later.

Other attacking options, including Anthony Gordon , have had injury concerns but still been selected.

Since Maddison made his debut for England in a 7-0 victory over Montenegro in November 2019, he has only picked up six more caps. It is a surprisingly low figure for an individual who has maintained high standards throughout his club career.

Maybe Maddison’s biggest problem is that he is caught up in a generation in which England have an abundance of attacking talent to choose from. He was the type of player sorely lacking from England’s squads at the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Euros — but his skill set could have come in handy at this tournament too. His ability to split defences with passes would have been valuable in tight games against opponents who prefer to sit behind the ball.

Maddison can take some comfort from the knowledge he is not the only high-profile player to miss out. Harry Maguire, who has been the lynchpin of England’s defence over the last six years, will not be risked due to a niggling calf injury. Jack Grealish’s performances for Aston Villa had England fans demanding Southgate start him at the Euros three years ago but he has been dumped from the squad entirely . The 28-year-old has endured a difficult season at Manchester City, due to injuries and personal issues, but it is still a big call to leave him out.

“We feel other players have had stronger seasons,” Southgate said about Maddison and Grealish during his squad announcement on Thursday evening. “They have been tough calls that we have gone over and over again as a group of staff to give the right rationale.

“We back our decisions but recognise we could have gone a different route. Both boys are big characters, fabulous team-mates, great boys to work with.”

Maddison will understandably feel disappointed. Perhaps the biggest blow is that it feels like the next generation has caught up with him before he was ever given a proper chance to make his mark on the international stage.

England Euro 2024 squad: Southgate confirms Grealish, Maguire omissions

England Euro 2024 squad in full

Goalkeepers:   Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace),  Jordan Pickford  ( Everton ),  Aaron Ramsdale  ( Arsenal ).

Defenders:   Lewis Dunk  ( Brighton ),  Joe Gomez  (Liverpool), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace),  Ezri Konsa  (Aston Villa), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City),  Kieran Trippier  ( Newcastle ),  Kyle Walker  (Manchester City).

Midfielders:   Trent Alexander-Arnold  (Liverpool),  Conor Gallagher  (Chelsea),  Kobbie Mainoo  (Manchester United), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)  Declan Rice  (Arsenal).

Forwards:   Jude Bellingham  ( Real Madrid ),  Jarrod Bowen  ( West Ham ), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace),  Phil Foden  (Manchester City),  Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Cole Palmer (Chelsea),  Bukayo Saka  (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Brentford), Ollie Watkins ( Aston Villa ).

(Top photo: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

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Jay Harris reports on Tottenham Hotspur for The Athletic. He worked for Sky Sports News for four years before he joined The Athletic in 2021 and spent three seasons covering Brentford. He covered the 2022 World Cup from Qatar and the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast. Follow Jay on Twitter @ jaydmharris

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Some things to know about NBA great Jerry West’s life and Hall of Fame career

FILE - Jerry West speaks during a news conference to introduce him as an advisor to the Los Angeles Clippers, in Los Angeles, June 19, 2017. Jerry West, who was selected to the Basketball Hall of Fame three times in a storied career as a player and executive and whose silhouette is considered to be the basis of the NBA logo, died Wednesday morning, June 12, 2024, the Los Angeles Clippers announced. He was 86.(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

FILE -FILE - Los Angeles Lakers Jerry West, right, passes the ball to Wilt Chamberlain Monday night, April 28, 1970, during a game with the New York Knickerbockers at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Covering West are Knicks Willis Reed (19), left, and Walt Frazier (10), center. Jerry West, who was selected to the Basketball Hall of Fame three times in a storied career as a player and executive and whose silhouette is considered to be the basis of the NBA logo, died Wednesday morning, June 12, 2024, the Los Angeles Clippers announced. He was 86.(AP Photo, File)

FILE - The NBA logo in shown on a basketball court in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Friday, Aug. 28, 2020. Jerry West, who was selected to the Basketball Hall of Fame three times in a legendary career as a player and executive and whose silhouette is considered to be the basis of the NBA logo, died Wednesday morning, June 12, 2024, the Los Angeles Clippers announced. He was 86.(AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool, File)

FILE - Jerry West (44) of West Virgina University shoots a jump shot against George Washington University during a Southern Conference game in Washington, March 1, 1958. Others pictured include West Virginia’s Lloyd Sharrar (31) and George Washington University’s Gene Guarilia (54) and Howard McDonald (50). Jerry West, who was selected to the Basketball Hall of Fame three times in a storied career as a player and executive and whose silhouette is considered to be the basis of the NBA logo, died Wednesday morning, June 12, 2024, the Los Angeles Clippers announced. He was 86.(AP Photo/Harvey Georges, File)

FILE - Former basketball players, from left, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West and Bill Russell watch during the first half of an NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 18, 2018, in Los Angeles. Jerry West, who was selected to the Basketball Hall of Fame three times in a storied career as a player and executive and whose silhouette is considered to be the basis of the NBA logo, died Wednesday morning, June 12, 2024, the Los Angeles Clippers announced. He was 86.(AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)

FILE - Former Los Angeles Lakers and Basketball Hall of Fame member Jerry West holds the Larry O’Brien championship trophy after it arrived at Los Angeles International Airport, on a Southwest Airlines, NBA-branded 737 named “Slam Dunk One,’' Monday, June 9, 2008, in Los Angeles. Jerry West, who was selected to the Basketball Hall of Fame three times in a storied career as a player and executive and whose silhouette is considered to be the basis of the NBA logo, died Wednesday morning, the Los Angeles Clippers announced. He was 86. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

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Hall of Famer Jerry West, the high-scoring guard whose silhouette is believed to be the basis of the NBA logo, died Wednesday at 86, the Los Angeles Clippers said.

West was enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1980 and again as a member of the gold medal-winning 1960 U.S. Olympic Team in 2010. He is scheduled to go in a third time later this year as a contributor for his work as an executive and a consultant.

Here are some other things to know about West:

West was nicknamed “Mr. Clutch” for his late-game heroics during 14 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, including hitting a 60-foot shot at the buzzer to tie the New York Knicks in Game 3 of the 1970 NBA Finals. It was a two-point shot at the time, so the game went to overtime, and the Knicks won 111-108.

Scoring prowess

West was consistently one of the top scorers in the league, topping 30 points a game four times. An All-Star in each of his 14 seasons, West averaged an NBA-best 31.2 points in 1969 and ranks fourth among retired players in all-time scoring behind Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor. He ended his career with 25,192 points, averaging 27 a game.

Playoff poise

West was at his best in the postseason, where he made the playoffs every year except 1971. He eclipsed the 40-point mark in 1965 and still holds the record for highest scoring average for a series. He averaged 46.3 points against Baltimore in the 1965 Western Division Finals.

West helped the Lakers reach the NBA Finals nine times but won just once, in 1972 against the Knicks. He lost six times to Boston in the 1960s.

Executive roles

West was general manager of eight NBA championship teams with the Lakers and helped build the “Showtime” dynasty. He also worked in front offices of the Memphis Grizzlies, the Golden State Warriors and the Clippers.

He drafted Magic Johnson and James Worthy with the Lakers and then brought in Kobe Bryant and eventually Shaquille O’Neal.

Even in his final years, West was considered basketball royalty. He routinely sat courtside at Summer League games in Las Vegas, often seeing players — including LeBron James — stand in long lines to shake his hand.

A native of Chelyan, West Virginia, West grew up shooting at a basket nailed to the side of a shed and often shot until his fingers bled. He became the first high school player in state history to score more than 900 points in a season, averaging 32.2 points in leading East Bank High to a state title.

He played collegiately at West Virginia, where he led the Mountaineers to the 1959 NCAA final. They lost to California by a point. He remains WVU’s all-time leading scorer.

Charmed and tormented

In his memoir, “West by West: My Charmed, Tormented Life,” West chronicled a lifelong battle with depression. He wrote that his childhood was devoid of love and filled with anger as a result of an abusive father. He often felt worthless and used basketball as therapy.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

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Library of Congress National Book Festival Announces Full Author Lineup for 2024

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Library of Congress National Book Festival Announces Full Author Lineup Main Stage to Feature Sandra Cisneros, James S.A. Corey, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Max Greenfield, Tamron Hall, Abby Jimenez, Casey McQuiston, James McBride, James Patterson, Lish Steiling and Rebecca Yarros

The festival’s theme this year, “ Books Build Us Up ,” explores how reading can help connect us and inform our lives. It’s through books that readers can develop strong bonds with writers and their ideas — relationships that open the entire world, real or imagined, to us all.

Throughout the day, attendees will hear conversations from authors of various genres across the festival's many stages. Award-winning author James Patterson will chat about his recent nonfiction book, “The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians: Their Stories Are Better Than the Bestsellers,” and James McBride will discuss his latest novel “The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store.”

Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin will take readers on an emotional journey in her latest book, “An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s,” an account dedicated to the last years of her husband’s life after serving as an aide and speechwriter to Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy. Erik Larson , author of “The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War,” will bring to life the pivotal five months between the election of Abraham Lincoln and the start of the Civil War. Sandra Cisneros will celebrate the 40 th Anniversary of “The House on Mango Street.” Abby Jimenez , author of “Just for the Summer,” and Casey McQuiston , author of “The Pairing,” will join forces to chat about their romance novels. Rebecca Yarros will talk about her bestselling “Empyrean” fantasy series including “Iron Flame,” sequel to her bestselling “Fourth Wing.” On some timely topics, Annalee Newitz , author of “Stories Are Weapons: Psychological Warfare and the American Mind,” and Peter Pomerantsev , author of “How to Win an Information War: The Propagandist Who Outwitted Hitler,” will discuss the impact, now and historically, of political propaganda and misinformation. Also, Joy Buolamwini , author of “Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What Is Human in a World of Machines,” and Kyle Chayka , author of “Filterworld: How Algorithms Flattened Culture,” dive deep into the impact of technology. Explore how cooking can inspire with Tamron Hall and Lish Steiling ’s “A Confident Cook: Recipes for Joyous, No-Pressure Fun in the Kitchen.” Grammy Award-winning vocalist Renée Fleming will explore the healing power of music in her latest book, “Music and Mind: Harnessing the Arts for Health and Wellness,” on stage with renowned psychologist and neuroscientist Daniel J. Levitin , author of “I Heard There Was a Secret Chord: Music as Medicine.” Young adult readers will enjoy a conversation between Candace Fleming , author of “The Enigma Girls: How Ten Teenagers Broke Ciphers, Kept Secrets and Helped Win World War II,” and Monica Hesse , author of “The Brightwood Code.” For children, featured authors will include actor and author Max Greenfield debuting his new children’s book, “Good Night Thoughts.” National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Meg Medina will share her latest children’s book, “No More Señora Mimí,” a salute to the caregivers who enter a child’s tender world. The full lineup of more than 90 authors by genre is listed below.

Attend the Festival

The National Book Festival will take place on  Saturday, Aug. 24 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.  at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. Doors will open at 8:30 a.m. The festival is free and open to everyone.

Interested attendees not able to join the festival in person can watch conversations throughout the day. Events on the Main Stage will be livestreamed on  loc.gov/bookfest . Videos of all presentations will be made available at loc.gov and on the Library’s YouTube channel shortly after the festival.

Visit  loc.gov/bookfest   to learn more about attending the festival. A comprehensive schedule will be available on the website and announced on the Library’s Bookmarked blog in the coming weeks. Subscribe to the blog for updates on festival plans and more. The National Book Festival celebrates creators and invites the public to be curious about the Library and its collections in their own creative or scholarly pursuits. Full Lineup of Featured Authors by Genre

Sandra Cisneros celebrates the 40 th anniversary of “The House on Mango Street,” her national bestselling novel following the life of a 12-year-old Chicana girl growing up in the Hispanic quarter of Chicago.

Donna Hemans , author of “The House of Plain Truth,” Rachel Khong , author of “Real Americans,” and Claire Messud , author of “This Strange Eventful History,” join forces on a panel to discuss how family secrets reverberate across generations.

Edan Lepucki , author of “Time's Mouth,” and Peng Shepherd , author of “All This and More,” talk all things time travel in their latest novels.

Elizabeth Gonzalez James , author of “The Bullet Swallower,” and Alexander Sammartino , author of “Last Acts,” explore masculinity and the ways we inherit violence in America in their new novels set in the West.

James McBride talks about his bestselling novel, “The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store.” Genre Fiction David Baldacci ’s newest courtroom novel, “A Calamity of Souls,” takes a deep dive into the nature of racism during one of America’s most tumultuous times.

James S.A. Corey , the pen name for Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck, the bestselling creators of “The Expanse” book and TV series , debut their new sci-fi series with “The Mercy of Gods.”

Abby Jimenez , author of “Just for the Summer,” and Casey McQuiston , author of “The Pairing,” discuss their inspirations behind writing romance novels.

Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child ’s newest thriller, “Angel of Vengeance,” follows FBI Special Agent Pendergast and Constance Greene taking a final stand against New York’s deadliest serial killer.

Rebecca Yarros , author of “Iron Flame,” the second book in the “Empyrean” series, talks about her love of writing fantasy romance novels. Biography, History and Memoir Marie Arana , author of “LatinoLand: A Portrait of America's Largest and Least Understood Minority,” discusses her new book that serves as an overview of Hispanic America based on personal interviews, deep research and Arana’s life experience as a Latina.

Amanda Bellows , author of “The Explorers: A New History of America in Ten Expeditions,” talks with Hampton Sides , author of “The Wide Wide Sea: Imperial Ambition, First Contact and the Fateful Final Voyage of Captain James Cook.”

Ned Blackhawk , author of “The Rediscovery of America: Native Peoples and the Unmaking of U.S. History,” and Kathleen DuVal , author of “Native Nations: A Millennium in North America,” discuss Native American history and culture.  

Max Boot , author of the forthcoming biography “Reagan: His Life and Legend,” discusses the life and societal influence of President Ronald Reagan.

Stuart E. Eizenstat , author of “The Art of Diplomacy: How American Negotiators Reached Historic Agreements That Changed the World,” discusses his book that touches on some of the greatest diplomatic negotiations of the past 50 years.

Camonghne Felix, author of “Dyscalculia: A Love Story of Epic Miscalculation,” and Safiya Sinclair, author of “How to Say Babylon: A Memoir,” talk about their evocative memoirs that reckon with heartbreak and cultural tradition.

Doris Kearns Goodwin , author of “An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s,” takes you along on the emotional journey she and her husband, Richard (Dick) Goodwin, embarked upon in the last years of his life.

Alexis Pauline Gumbs , author of “Survival Is a Promise: The Eternal Life of Audre Lorde,” and Tiya Miles , author of “Night Flyer: Harriet Tubman and the Faith Dreams of a Free People,” discuss the intertwined histories of America and Black women.

Erik Larson , author of “The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War,” talks about his latest book, a political horror story that captures the events that led America to the brink of war during Abraham Lincoln’s election.

Ayana Mathis, author of “The Unsettled,” and Viet Thanh Nguyen , “A Man of Two Faces: A Memoir, A History, A Memorial,” celebrate the life and work of American writer and civil rights activist James Baldwin.

David M. Rubenstein discusses his newest book, “The Highest Calling: Conversations on the American Presidency.” He’ll talk with historian Douglas Brinkley. General Nonfiction Arash Azizi is the author of “What Iranians Want: Women, Life, Freedom” and a Liberties Journal of Culture and Politics writer who will talk about the ways that young critics are influencing wide cultural conversations. Joy Buolamwini , author of “Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What Is Human in a World of Machines,” and Kyle Chayka , author of “Filterworld: How Algorithms Flattened Culture,” dive deep into how technology flattens culture and affects our interactions with one another in the 21 st century.  

Nathalie A. Cabrol , author of “The Secret Life of the Universe: An Astrobiologist's Search for the Origins and Frontiers of Life,” and Dante S. Lauretta , author of “The Asteroid Hunter: A Scientist’s Journey to the Dawn of Our Solar System,” discuss groundbreaking research in finding evidence of life in our solar system.

Renée Fleming , Grammy Award-winning soprano and author talks about the connection between music and health in her newest book, “Music and Mind: Harnessing the Arts for Health and Wellness,” with neuroscientist Daniel J. Levitin , author of “I Heard There Was a Secret Chord: Music as Medicine.”

Dynamic duo Tamron Hall and Lish Steiling talk about their new cookbook for aspiring chefs, “A Confident Cook: Recipes for Joyous, No-Pressure Fun in the Kitchen.”

Carlos Lozada , author of “The Washington Book: How to Read Politics and Politicians,” and Jeffrey Rosen , author of “The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America,” explore how politicians may reveal more about themselves than they mean to when they write.

Annalee Newitz , author of “Stories Are Weapons: Psychological Warfare and the American Mind,” and Peter Pomerantsev , author of “How to Win an Information War: The Propagandist Who Outwitted Hitler,” discuss the impact, now and historically, of political propaganda and misinformation.

Aimee Nezhukumatathil , author of “Bite by Bite: Nourishments and Jamborees,” Annabelle Tometich , author of “The Mango Tree: A Memoir of Fruit, Florida and Felony,” and Crystal Wilkinson , author “Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts: Stories and Recipes from Five Generations of Black Country Cooks,” explore the intersection of food, memory and culture.

Award-winning author James Patterson will discuss his latest library-themed book that celebrates the world of librarians and their stories in “The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians: Their Stories Are Better Than the Bestsellers.” Poetry and Translation M.A.R. Habib , translator of “The Qur’an: A Verse Translation,” and Emily Wilson , translator of Homer’s “The Iliad,” discuss what we could learn from the ancients in their new translations.

Tess Taylor , Aimee Nezhukumatathil , Forrest Gander and Ruben Quesada talk about their new poetry anthology, “Leaning Toward Light: Poems for Gardens & the Hands That Tend Them.” Young Adults Tomi Adeyemi , author of “Children of Anguish and Anarchy,” and Vanessa Le , author “The Last Bloodcarver,” discuss fantasy and heritage within their storytelling.

Terry J. Benton-Walker , editor of “The White Guy Dies First: 13 Scary Stories of Fear and Power,” and Desiree S. Evans and Saraciea J. Fennell , editors of “The Black Girl Survives in This One: Horror Stories,” discuss their anthologies that focus on overturning stereotypes within horror stories.

K.A. Cobell , author of “Looking for Smoke,” and Andrew Joseph White , author of “Compound Fracture,” talk about social issues through young adult thrillers.

Hayley Dennings , author of “This Ravenous Fate,” and Marie Lu , author of “Icon and Inferno,” chat about their love of writing heart-pounding stories of action-packed romance.

Safia Elhillo , author of “Bright Red Fruit,” and Tony Keith Jr. , author of “How the Boogeyman Became a Poet,” discuss self-discovery through writing poetry.

Candace Fleming , author of “The Enigma Girls: How Ten Teenagers Broke Ciphers, Kept Secrets and Helped Win World War II,” and Monica Hesse , author of “The Brightwood Code,” discuss how their stories bring focus to women and young people in STEM through stories of wartime coding and code-breaking.

Christopher Paolini , international bestselling author of the “The Inheritance Cycle,” explores his latest book, “Murtagh,” the direct sequel to “Inheritance.”

Gene Luen Yang , former National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, and illustrator LeUyen Pham talk about their new romantic comedy graphic novel, “Lunar New Year Love Story,” a story about a couple trying to break a love curse. Middle Grade James Bird , author of “No Place Like Home,” and graphic novelist Jonathan Todd , author and illustrator of “Timid,” discuss how they adapted their personal stories into fiction.

Graphic novelists Vera Brosgol , creator of “Plain Jane and the Mermaid,” and Kazu Kibuishi , creator of “Waverider,” the final novel in the Amulet series, discuss their fantasy adventure graphic novels.

Peter Brown , bestselling author of “The Wild Robot Protects,” the third title in the “Wild Robot” series, chats about how he creates a world where a lovable robot protects her home and animal friends from environmental disaster.

Pablo Cartaya , author of “Curveball,” and Hena Khan , author of “We Are Big Time,” talk about writing graphic novels focused on girls who discover their resilience through their love of sports.

J.C. Cervantes , author of “The Daggers of Ire,” and Zetta Elliott , author of “The War of the Witches,” chat about the journey of writing fantasy novels focused on the strength and power kids can discover when working together.

Ernest Cline , best known for his award-winning science fiction novel, “Ready Player One,” chats about his latest tale, “Bridge to Bat City,” a mostly true story about a young girl and a music-loving colony of bats in Austin, Texas.

Barbara Dee , author of “Unstuck,” and Susan Haas and Lexi Haas , mother-daughter author duo writers of “The Year of the Buttered Cat: A Mostly True Story,” discuss the importance of various styles of communication and connection in real life and within stories.

Anna Lapera , author of “Mani Semilla Finds Her Quetzal Voice,” and Sherri Winston , author of “Shark Teeth,” talk in depth about how their characters find their voice to advocate for themselves during treacherous times. Picture Books Steve Asbell, author of “Flap Your Hands: A Celebration of Stimming,” and Stephanie Seales , author of “My Daddy Is a Cowboy,” discuss their love of illustrating and writing nonfiction books for children that help them find positive role models.

Max Greenfield , beloved actor and author, talks about the release of his new children’s book, “Good Night Thoughts,” a sweetly funny bedtime book about anxiety and being present.

Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston talk about their new book together, “The Dictionary Story,” a lyrical picture book that aims to inspire readers of all ages to create their own art.

Meg Medina , National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, talks about her new children’s book, “No More Señora Mimí,” a story about the caregivers who enter a child’s tender world.

Author Adam Rubin and illustrator Liniers discuss their new laugh-out-loud picture book, “The Truth About the Couch.”

About the National Book Festival

The Library’s National Book Festival was co-founded in 2001 by first lady Laura Bush.

Authors will participate in book signings at the festival. Festivalgoers will be able to purchase books by the featured authors from Politics and Prose, the official bookseller of the 2024 National Book Festival onsite at the Festival.

The National Book Festival is made possible by the generous support of private- and public-sector sponsors who share the Library’s commitment to reading and literacy, led by National Book Festival Co-Chair David M. Rubenstein. Sponsors include: General Motors, James Madison Council, Institute of Museum and Library Services, National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, CoStar Group, the John W. Kluge Center, AARP, Friends of the Library of Congress, Diane and Tim Naughton, the Library of Congress Federal Credit Union, and the Junior League of Washington.

C-SPAN’s Book TV will return to the National Book Festival as a media partner to livestream select events and interview featured authors. Media partners also include The Washington Post and NPR.

The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States — and extensive materials from around the world — both on-site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Explore collections, reference services and other programs and plan a visit at  loc.gov ; access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at  congress.gov ; and register creative works of authorship at  copyright.gov .

Media Contacts: Brett Zongker, [email protected] , and Elaina Finkelstein, [email protected] PR 24-048 06/18/2024 ISSN 0731-3527