Page 169 - Beers With Our Founding Fathers

A Patriot’s view of the history and direction of our Country

James Madison
rd
th
March 3 1751 to June 28 1836
Founding Father, Congressman, Secretary of State, Fourth

President

Like several of his fellow revolutionaries, James Madison was a
Virginian born to a prominent family, also slave owners. Madison

had several prominent roles in the birth of our Country. In addition

to being involved in the early concepts of independence, he was one
of the three authors of the Federalist Papers, with Alexander
Hamilton and John Jay. He is most recognized for his prominent role

as the ‘Founder of the Constitution’ and the foundation for the Bill

of Rights. He would later serve as Secretary of State to Thomas
Jefferson (1801-1809), following with his own two terms as our

Country’s fourth President (1809-1817).
Madison graduated from the College of New Jersey (now

Princeton) in 1771, extending his stay for further studies. In 1772 he
became immersed in the growing tensions between the colonies

and England. In 1774 he was appointed a Colonel in the Virginia
army, and in 1776 met Thomas Jefferson; they would be friends for

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