Dolley Madison

Table of Contents

Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Images

Earliest known photograph of a U.S. first lady

Mrs. Dolly Madison, by Gilbert Stuart.Gilbert Stuart, who was born in Rhode Island but spent nearly twenty years abroad, found preeminent popularity with his fluid and luminous society portraits.

Read Next

The United States Supreme Court building, Washington, D.C.

14 Questions About Government in the United States Answered

Bar graph of the United States Death Toll during major events. Infogram chart.

U.S. Death Toll During Major Events

The Battle of New Orleans, by E. Percy Moran, c. 1910. Andrew Jackson, War of 1812.

26 Decade-Defining Events in U.S. History

Groups of depositors in front of the closed American Union Bank, New York City. April 26, 1932. Great Depression run on bank crowd

Causes of the Great Depression

President's bingo. Guess and select to correct president based on images.

Britannica’s U.S. Presidents Bingo

Discover

Nativity Scene, Adoration of the Magi, Church of the Birth of the Virgin Mary, Montenegro

Why Is Christmas in December?

Srinivasa Ramanujan, Indian mathematician and autodidact.

6 Interesting Facts about Srinivasa Ramanujan

A mug shot taken by the regional Colombia control agency in Medellin

Pablo Escobar: 8 Interesting Facts About the King of Cocaine

What's the Difference Between a Solstice and an Equinox?

Watergate scandal. Richard M. Nixon. President Nixon gives a press conference and talks to the press, March 12, 1971.

9 American Political Scandals

Ice Sledge Hockey, Hockey Canada Cup, USA (left) vs Canada, 2009. UBC Thunderbird Arena, Vancouver, BC, competition site for Olympic ice hockey and Paralympic ice sledge hockey. Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Vancouver Olympics

10 Best Hockey Players of All Time

Orange basketball on black background and with low key lighting. Homepage 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society

The 10 Greatest Basketball Players of All Time

Dolley Madison

American first lady

Also known as: Dolley Payne, Dolley Todd, Dolly Madison

Written by Betty Boyd Caroli

Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Article History

Quick Facts

Née:: Dolley Payne

Also called (1790–93):: Dolley Todd

Dolley also spelled:: Dolly

Born:: May 20, 1768, Guilford county, North Carolina [U.S.]

Died:: July 12, 1849, Washington, D.C., U.S. (aged 81)

Dolley Madison (born May 20, 1768, Guilford county, North Carolina [U.S.]—died July 12, 1849, Washington, D.C., U.S.) was an American first lady (1809–17), the wife of James Madison, fourth president of the United States. Raised in the plain style of her Quaker family, she was renowned for her charm, warmth, and ingenuity. Her popularity as manager of the White House made that task a responsibility of every first lady who followed. Dolley Payne was one of eight children of John Payne, a merchant, and Mary Coles Payne. Soon after her birth, her father’s business fell on hard times and the ...(100 of 958 words)

Access the full article

Help support true facts by becoming a member.