James Madison

James Madison (1751–1836) was born in Port Conway, Virginia, and graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton) in two years rather than the usual four. At the age of 25, he drafted Virginia’s first constitution and bill of rights, later a model for the Bill of Rights in the US Constitution. He supported religious toleration and the separation of church and state.

Madison is credited as “The Father of the Constitution.” Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay wrote the Federalist Papers in support of ratification of the Constitution. But as a congressman he formed the Democratic-Republican Party with Thomas Jefferson in opposition to the Federalists. Madison succeeded Jefferson as fourth President of the United States and served for two terms, from 1809 to 1815. During his time in office, the United States fought the War of 1812 against Great Britain, often described as a second war for independence.