Dolly Shot

Dolley Madison

DOLLEY MADISON was the wife of the fourth U. S. president, James Madison. Mr. Madison, often called the "Father of the Constitution," married the widowed Dolley in 1794, after being introduced by Aaron Burr. During the administration of Thomas Jefferson, Madison was the Secretary of State, and Dolley served as hostess for the White House. When Madison was elected to the presidency in 1808, Dolley became the model of the society-minded First Lady, holding court over a vibrant social scene in the new nation's capital. During the War of 1812, while Madison was out of town with the army, a British force overwhelmed Washington and torched the White House. Dolley grabbed as many things of value as she could and escaped, making her a national hero.