Who was Dolley Madison?
Q: Who was Dolley Madison?
A: Dolley Madison was the wife of US President James Madison and served as the First Lady of the United States from 1809 to 1817. She is best known for saving Washington's portrait when the British burned the White House in the War of 1814.
Q: Where was Dolley born?
A: Dolley was born in New Garden, now known as Guilford County, North Carolina or possibly a village named Payne’s Tavern in Person County, North Carolina.
Q: What were her parents' names?
A: Her father's name was John Payne and her mother's name was Mary Coles.
Q: Where did she spend her teenage years?
A: Dolley spent her teenage years in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Q: Who did she marry first?
A: On January 7, 1790, she married John Todd Jr., a lawyer. They had two sons together - John Payne (1792-1852) and William Temple (born and died in 1793). William died in a yellow fever epidemic and shortly after that so did his father.
Q: When did she marry James Madison?
A: Dolley Todd married James Madison on September 14, 1794. They had no children but raised Dolley's son from her first marriage, John Payne Todd.
Q: What is one thing that is attributed to her during the War of 1814?
A: During the War of 1814 when The British army burnt down The White House, it is said that Dolley saved many records and papers including a painting of George Washington which had to be broken out of its frame.
