James Madison
1751–1836 (age 85)
President
Biography
James Madison, the fourth President of the United States, was a principal architect of the American Constitution and a champion of individual liberty. His intellectual contributions to the founding of the nation were profound and enduring, shaping the fundamental structure of American government.
Madison's presidency from 1809 to 1817 was marked by his leadership during the War of 1812 and his steadfast commitment to republican principles. His life, which extended from 1751 to 1836, encompassed the full arc of the nation's founding and early development. He was laid to rest at Montpelier, his beloved Virginia estate.