James Madison was born in 1751 and was raised in Orange County, Virginia. He received most of his schooling at home, from his grandmother. When he was twelve he went to the school of Donald Robertson in King and Queen County. After a few years with Robertson, he studied with Reverend Thomas Martin for about one year. In 1769 he enrolled in the College of New Jersey, which is now Princeton University. Madison concentrated mostly on the study of history, government, and public law. In 1771 he received his degree and pursued some postgraduate studies. Uncertain about a career, he read about literature, theology, and law.

In 1774 Madison was elected a member of Orange County's committee of safety, which carried out certain governmental functions as provided by the Continental Congress. In 1776 he was elected a delegate to the Virginia constitutional convention. Here he worked with Virginia legislator Thomas Jefferson in establishing religious freedom as par

When Madison took office the Embargo Act of 1807 was replace by the Non-Intercourse Act, which allowed trade to all countries but France and Britain. American ships were being seized at a greater rate, by both countries. In 1810 the Non-Intercourse Act was repealed, and the U.S. started trade with France and Britain again.

In November 1811 American troops under Indiana Governor William Harrison fought the Shawnee nation at the Battle of Tippecanoe, after the British were accused of provoking Native American attacks on American frontier communities. Madison demanded war on Britain. Congress passed an Embargo Act on Britain, but it soon expired. Madison then expressed his war message to Congress.

Madison's final years were troubled with severe illnesses. His interest and concern for the nation he had helped to found continued was not lessened. The deaths of his longtime friends, Jefferson and Monroe, saddened his life even more. During his last years, Madison was confined to his home, where he died in 1836.

In 1781 the war for independence came to an end, and the United States was assured independence. The new nation had to decide on a form of government and its relations with its neighbors. Madison favored strengthening the central government by giving it the power to enforce its financial rights on the states and to levy import duties. Madison left Philadelphia at the end of 1783, he then established himself as an able and farsighted politician.

Ketcham, Ralph. James Madison. New York: Macmillan, 1971.

Biography of James Madison. Left Justified Publinks. Internet. 10 Jan. 2001. http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/glimpse/presidents/html/

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