Montpelier celebrates the "first" first lady: Dolley Madison
Known as the “first” First Lady, Dolley’s warmth, hospitality, and political acumen shaped much of the culture we find still today in our nation’s capital. In fact, it was 1808 when James Madison was first elected president, and Dolley’s ability to garner political support and votes for her husband 200 years ago made her a valuable asset. Madison’s opponent, Charles Pickney, said following his defeat, “I was beaten by Mr. and Mrs. Madison. I might have had a better chance had I faced Mr. Madison alone.”
Dolley’s political and social flair, coupled with her husband’s intellect, position, and political skills, made the pair a force in Washington and in our nation’s history.
• Dolley’s role as the nation’s hostess first began during Thomas Jefferson’s tenure as president. Jefferson, a widower, relied on Dolley’s hospitality in the president’s house, while James Madison served as the nation’s secretary of state.
• In 1803 when Jefferson lacked the funds to outfit Lewis and Clarke’s expedition through the Louisiana Territory, Dolley informally took up the cause. She successfully rallied enough local donations to outfit the “corps of discovery” with essential supplies and gear.
• The first inaugural-night ball in Washington, D.C. was held upon James Madison taking office. Madison looked pale and exhausted, and Dolley took center stage, wearing a white turban accessorized with bird-of-paradise feathers. Acknowledging her regal, yet not royal, status, the media dubbed her “the Presidentess.”
• To reinforce the president’s home as being the people’s house, Dolley hosted weekly open houses. Visitors from every part of the nation, as well as locals and members of Congress dropped in. Mrs. Madison’s “Wednesday Nights” soon became an essential part of the political scene of the nation’s new capital.
• History remembers Dolley Madison for her composure and courage as the British invaded Washington in 1814 and burned the White House and the U.S. Congress building. Her inspiring presence helped galvanize support for the rebuilding and revitalization of Washington as the capital city.
• Following her husband’s death in 1836 at Montpelier, Dolley returned to Washington where she was recognized as society’s grand lady. A living symbol of the Founders, Dolley was granted an honorary seat on the floor of the House of Representatives. Her death in July 1849 occasioned the largest state funeral Washington had experienced.
ABOUT MONTPELIER
Montpelier is the lifelong home of James Madison, Father of the Constitution, architect of the Bill of Rights, and fourth president of the United States. Since 2003, Montpelier’s 22-room, 12,500-square-foot mansion has been undergoing the most significant historical restoration in the nation to return it to the home that James and Dolley Madison created and loved. The $24 million project will celebrate its architectural completion with a Restoration Celebration and free admission on Constitution Day, Sept. 17, 2008.
Visitors can witness the home’s transformation through daily guided tours, and leisurely stroll the garden, forests, and many other attractions on the property’s 2,650 acres. Nestled in the rolling foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Montpelier is located in the heart of Virginia’s wine country on Route 20, four miles south of Orange, Virginia. Montpelier is a National Trust Historic site. To learn more, visit www.montpelier.org