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Period: to
March 4, 1809- March 4, 1817
During this time, James Madison was president. While James Madison was president, Dolley Madison contributed to her husband's popularity. She was known for redecorating the White House for parties and celebrations in the White House. As for desserts, the Madison family was famous for ice cream. Ice cream was very rare and it was very special to be able to eat it, because it was very hard to refrigerate, and back then there were no modern fridges. Dolley's favorite flavor of ice cream was oyster. -
1790
In her early life, Dolley Madison and her family moved from Virginia to Philadelphia. "Dolley married John Todd, a Quaker lawyer in Philadelphia. The couple had two sons, John Payne (called Payne) and William Temple." -
August 1793
A yellow fever epidemic broke out in Philadelphia that killed Dolley's husband John and her son William. The two died on the same day that thousands were leaving the city. She soon became a widow at age 25. -
1794
James Madison was introduced to Dolley by Aaron Burr. Later that year Madison proposed to Dolley on September 15, and she accepted. Dolley was 26 years old and Madison was 46 years old when they got married. Before she married James Madison, she was a Quaker, where once she married him she became an Episcopalian, just like James. -
1797
After James married Dolley, Madison stayed with Dolley in Philadelphia for three years. Later on James Madison retired from politics and the family returned to Montpelier, the Madison family plantation in Virginia. There they became the master and mistress of Montpelier, after James' father died. -
1800
Jefferson won presidency and asked Madison to be the secretary of state, and so the Madison family moved to Washington. They first lived with Jefferson in the White House, but later they got there own house not too far away in Washington. -
1809
On this year James Madison was Elected Chief Executive. During this time she went to her first inaugural ball. Here she hosted the ball, and decorated the building. -
1814
"As the British army neared Washington in 1814, Dolley Madison ordered that White House staff save a portrait of George Washington from the flames." This was in the time of the Battle of 1812, and Dolley knew that George Washington was an important figure of America, so that was why she saved the portrait. She ended up returning to the White House with the portrait after the war. -
1830
Dolley Madison's son, Payne Todd, went into debtor's in Philadelphia. This situation caused Dolley to pay for his debts with a lot of her financial money. The debt increased some more after James Madison's death. -
1837
After her husband's death, Dolley moved back to Washington into Lafayette Square. She left her son Payne in charge of Montpelier, but he quickly failed to do so because of his alcoholism. Dolley ended up having to sell the entire Montpelier.