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Dolley Payne was born in the Quaker community of Guilford County, North Carolina, to parents John Payne and Mary Cole Payne.
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Dolley Payne marries John Todd, a lawyer in Philadelphia. John Todd is also a Quaker.
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Dolley Payne Todd's first husband and second son, an infant, die of yellow fever. She is left a widow, with a son, two years of age.
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As Dolley was in very high social circles, she had many friends. One of her friends was Aaron Burr. He was also a friend to James Madison. Aaron Burr introduced Dolley and James, and began their courtship.
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Dolley Payne Todd accepts a marriage proposal from James Madison.
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Dolley Payne Todd becomes Dolley Madison when she marries James Madison, two and a half months after meeting him.
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Dolley madison served as Jefferson's hostess after James Madison became Secretary of State for Thomas Jefferson's presidency.
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Dolley Madison campaigns for James Madison while he runs for president.
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Dolley Madison was the first First Lady to host the inaugural ball.
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When James Madison died, he was buried at Montpelier, his plantation estate, where he left everything to Dolley.
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Due to her son's extreme debt, Dolley is forced to sell Montpelier, along with surrounding plantation land, to get her son out of debtors' prison.
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Because James Madison was buried at Montpelier, Dolley wanted to be buried there as well. However, she had sold the property, and had to be buried at the Congressional Cemetery. She was later reburied next to James Madison.