James Madison

Years in Office: 1809 to 1817

James Madison was a wealthy plantation owner and lawyer. He served our country well as a champion of the Bill of Rights, member of Congress, Secretary of State, and Father of the Constitution. Madison was a peace-loving man, but he was reluctantly obliged to declare war on England in 1812 to establish the rights of American ships and sailors. England was stopping our ships and trying to locate runaway British sailors. They captured American sailors and forced them to serve on English ships.

During the War of 1812, the British burned Washington D.C. and the White House. This is the only war which a foreign power has invaded continental United States. In 1814 Francis Scott Key wrote "The Star Spangled Banner" during the shelling of Fort McHenry by British war-ships. While Madison was President the states of Louisiana and Indiana were added to the union to making 19. After his term in office, Madison retired to his plantation, Montpelier, where he joined with Jefferson in founding the University of Virginia. Madison was our shortest president, just 5 feet 4 inches tall.