James Madison was born in Port Conway, Virginia, on March 16, 1751. When he turned 17 he went to the College of New Jersey (now we call it Princeton).  He liked studying government and history.   

Before he was president, Madison was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.  He represented the state of Virginia.

 On Sept. 15, 1794 James Madison married Dorothea Payne Todd.  Her friends called her Dolly. 

Madison was the fourth President of the United States of America. He served from 1809 until 1817.  He was a two term president.  George Clinton and Elbridge Gerry were his Vice-Presidents.

During his presidency the United States fought the British in the War of 1812.  The British Army burned down the White House and most of Washington D.C.  Dolly Madison, the presidents’ wife, thought quickly and saved most the president's papers from the burning White House. 

When Madison was President, the "Star-Spangled Banner" was written by Francis Scott Key.  This is the United States' National Anthem.  You hear this song before sports games, like football, basketball, and hockey.  

President James Madison died in 1836 when he was 85 years old.