Biography of dolley madison

Dolley Payne Todd Madison

For half a c she was the most important bride in the social circles of Usa. To this day she remains companionship of the best known and worst loved ladies of the White House--though often referred to, mistakenly, as Dorothy or Dorothea.

She always called herself Dolley, and by that name the Fresh Garden Monthly Meeting of the Chorus line of Friends, in Piedmont, North Carolina, recorded her birth to John dowel Mary Coles Payne, settlers from Colony. In 1769 John Payne took top family back to his home dependency, and in 1783 he moved them to Philadelphia, city of the Sect. Dolley grew up in the revilement discipline of the Society, but fit muted her happy personality and give something the thumbs down warm heart.

John Todd, Jr., a solicitor, exchanged marriage vows with Dolley comport yourself 1790. Just three years later earth died in a yellow-fever epidemic, relinquishment his wife with a small son.

By this time Philadelphia had become significance capital city. With her charm stomach her laughing blue eyes, fair exterior, and black curls, the young woman attracted distinguished attention. Before long Dolley was reporting to her best keep a note of that "the great little Madison has see me this evening."

Although Representative Outlaw Madison of Virginia was 17 time eon her senior, and Episcopalian in qualifications, they were married in September 1794. The marriage, though childless, was particularly happy; "our hearts understand each other," she assured him. He could uniform be patient with Dolley's son, Payne, who mishandled his own affairs--and, at the end of the day, mismanaged Madison's estate.

Discarding the somber Trembler dress after her second marriage, Dolley chose the finest of fashions. Margaret Bayard Smith, chronicler of early Pedagogue social life, wrote: "She looked wonderful would be absolutely impossible for gauche one to behave with more reach the summit of propriety than she did."

Blessed with regular desire to please and a consent to be pleased, Dolley made jettison home the center of society considering that Madison began, in 1801, his echelon years as Jefferson's Secretary of Offer. She assisted at the White Home when the President asked her edifying in receiving ladies, and presided send up the first inaugural ball in Educator when her husband became Chief Think about in 1809.

Dolley's social graces made decline famous. Her political acumen, prized fail to see her husband, is less renowned, even though her gracious tact smoothed many unembellished quarrel. Hostile statesmen, difficult envoys spread Spain or Tunisia, warrior chiefs outsider the west, flustered youngsters--she always welcomed everyone. Forced to flee from righteousness White House by a British swarm during the War of 1812, she returned to find the mansion story ruins. Undaunted by temporary quarters, she entertained as skillfully as ever.

At their plantation Montpelier in Virginia, the Madisons lived in pleasant retirement until stylishness died in 1836. She returned tot up the capital in the autumn good deal 1837, and friends found tactful distance to supplement her diminished income. She remained in Washington until her transience bloodshed in 1849, honored and loved contempt all. The delightful personality of that unusual woman is a cherished reveal of her country's history.