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Dolley Madison, one of the nation's most prestigious founders, was as notable and beloved in her time as she is in ours. She supported her husband, James Madison in his great political works in the nation's capitol, and after his death, moved back to Washington, D.C. to resume her high social status, second only to the acting president and his first lady.

Born on May 20, 1768, she was raised as a Quaker in Virginia and Philadelphia, and married a young lawyer of the same faith, John Todd, in 1790. By 1792, they had two children, John Payne and William Temple though Dolley lost both her son William and her husband John in Philadelphia’s yellow fever epidemic of 1793.

The twenty-five year old widow remained in Philadelphia, and was introduced in May of 1794 to James Madison by their mutual friend Aaron Burr. Madison, seventeen years Dolley’s senior, was already a great politician, having crafted the Virginia Plan that shaped the United States Constitution, and was now at the head of the newly formed Republican party. His naturally shy nature was countered by Dolley’s vivacious warmth, and the two were married on September 15, 1794. Dolley was shunned by her Quaker friends and ostracized from her faith for marrying Madison.

In May of 1801, Madison was appointed to President Thomas Jefferson’s cabinet as Secretary of State. He and Dolley moved to Washington, D.C, where Dolley acted as the widowed Jefferson’s White House hostess. During the eight years of Jefferson’s administration, Dolley’s reputation flourished as a brilliant hostess with a soothing diplomatic charm, so that when Madison was elected to the Presidency in 1808, his wife stepped into the role of first lady with perfect, gracious ease.

Dolley proved to be not only first lady in the White House, but first in social grace, charm and, later, first in valor. During the War of 1812, Dolley faced the invading British army in the White House. Madison had gone to inspect American troops in August of 1814, and Dolley stayed in the Executive mansion until the last minute, evacuating valuables, state papers and, most famously of all, the Thomas Gibson portrait of George Washington from the British flames. She was dubbed the “hero of the War of 1812”.

Three years later, Madison and Dolley retired to their Orange County country estate Montpelier, where they remained for the next twenty years entertaining the numerous guests, both friends and strangers, who flocked to see the former president and his good lady.

After Madison’s death on June 28, 1836, Dolley returned to Washington, D.C. in a state of financial distress, due mostly to her alcoholic, gambling and wayward son, John Payne. Though she sold Madison’s political papers which the two had carefully edited before his death, and later her beloved Montpeiler, Dolley remained in tight financial bounds until her death.

Though her monetary difficulties did keep her from entertaining as much as she would have liked, nothing could curb her astounding popularity. Daniel Webster said she was the “only permanent power in Washington.” In 1844, Dolley was invited to send the second message during the first grand demonstration of Samuel F. B. Morse’s electric telegraph. She sent her love to her friend, Mrs. Wethered, in Baltimore. Notable visitors to the nation’s capital would first compliment the president with a call to the White House, and then stroll across Lafayette Square to pay tribute to Dolley Madison.

After her death on July 12, 1849, Washington, D.C. as well as the nation mourned the loss of the remarkable Dolley Madison. From a quiet Quaker upbringing, Dolley grew into the spirited leader of not only society, but of the nation. She supported and furthered her husband James Madison’s efforts to strengthen the country. When praised for her stand against the British, she modestly replied, “Anyone would have done what I did.”

Unlike so many other first ladies, Dolley Madison is not remembered only as the wife of a president. Whether she is remembered for her incredible charm and dignity, her social splendor or her heroism during the War of 1812, she is one of the nation’s, and Virginia’s, greatest founders.