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Dolley Payne Madison
From the Letters of Dolley Madison
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Dolley Payne's childhood centered
around the family home in Virginia and the local Quaker Meeting House. Although
the Quakers were a peace-loving community, they were often vilified by their
neighbours. When Dolley was fifteen, her family moved to Philadelphia, the
largest city in the United States and a Quaker stronghold. Dolley married
a Quaker lawyer and had two children.
In 1793, Dolley's husband and youngest son died during a yellow fever epidemic. Shortly afterwards, she met Congressman James Madison, who was seventeen years her senior. Dolley married Madison less than one year after her first husband's death, knowing that she would be disowned by the Quaker community. Dolley brought her young son, Payne, into the new household and quickly took on the role of glamorous political wife and hostess. As an eldest daughter, she had been well-trained in the domestic arts and her easy manner made her endearing to all. Despite her Quaker background, she saw nothing wrong with fashion and began adding satin slippers, parasols and other fine clothes to her wardrobe. Dolley and James adored each other. Although Dolley had a limited education she was keen to discuss political affairs with her new husband. She became First Lady in 1809 and was an exceptionally popular hostess. The spring of 1812 was a time of great anxiety for both Dolley and James. Although neither of them welcomed war, they both realized it was inevitable. Dolley's mettle was put to the test during the British attack on Washington in 1814. On August 22, President Madison set out for Bladensburg, Maryland to assess the district's defenses. As news of the Redcoats' approach spread to Washington, the hundred men guarding the presidential mansion began to flee. Dolley spent the night of August 23 alone, save for a few loyal servants. By the next day, Dolley could hear cannonfire in the distance and friends were urging her to leave town. She was unwilling to escape until she had packed up valuable objects and ensured the safekeeping of a prized portrait of George Washington and a copy of the Declaration of Independence. That evening, while British soldiers ransacked the President's mansion and Washington went up in flames, Dolley and James searched for each other frantically. They eventually met up at a roadside tavern. Following James' retirement, the couple took up residence at the Madison family home in Montpelier, Virginia. Dolley eventually returned to Washington, where she enjoyed the status of a revered matriarch. |
