Founding Father Facts - James Madison
Madison was considered a “constitutional liability” and could not fight in the Revolutionary War likely due to bad migraines.
Jefferson wooed a woman (Kitty) on Madison’s behalf and spoke with her often trying to talk up Madison’s potential.
But once Jefferson left them, Madison and Kitty struggled to make their relationship work. She letter broke off their engagement.
When boarding once while on the road, Madison found not having a proper desk to write at worse than having to share a bed with a stranger.
It was Madison’s “job” to moderate Jefferson’s radical ideas and he often proofread his friend’s letters to make sure he wasn’t being too extreme.
Madison always dressed in black and never changed his style from that of knee-breeches and stocking even after long pants were in style.
Madison and Dolley lived with Jefferson at the White House for a few months.
Which led to rumors that Jefferson had a sexual relationship with Dolley in an attempt to tarnish Jefferson’s morals and Madison’s masculinity.
Madison once had to meet with a newspaper writer who wanted to discuss Jefferson’s sex life (mainly Sally Hemings) with him.
Madison never mentioned Hamilton’s death to anyone, likely because Hamilton was anti-republican and died in a very un-republican way (dueling was considered archaic and aristocratic).
Madison hated his inaugural ball. A friend, Margaret Baynard Smith, told him she wished she could offer him a chair and he replied: “I wish so, too.” Madison was forced to stay longer and told her that he “would much rather be in bed.”
After the White House burned down during the War of 1812, Jefferson offered his collection of nine or ten thousand books to the Library of Congress as a way to let poor Madison know he didn’t have to bear the shame of the war alone.
Once while dining with Jefferson, Madison tipped his chair too far back and fell out an open window.
Jefferson considered Madison to be “the best farmer in the world.”
Madison was long-sighted in one eye and short-sighted in the other.
Madison typically retired around 10pm and read in bed before getting only 4 or 5 hours of sleep.
Sources: The Three Lives of James Madison by Noah Feldman / The Madison’s by Virginia Moore (chair tipping)
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