James Madison

James Madison (1751-1836) was an American statesman, philosopher, Founding Father, and president. He served as a delegate from Virginia to the Continental Congress both during and after the American Revolutionary War. An advocate of replacing the ineffective national government established under the Articles of Confederation, Madison wrote his Virginia Plan, an influential proposal that helped direct the creation of the new constitution. Following the Constitutional Convention, Madison joined Hamilton and Jay in writing The Federalist Papers to promote ratification. Over the next several decades, he served as an advisor to President Washington, organized the Democratic-Republican Party, and served as Jefferson’s Secretary of State. Elected to the presidency in 1808, Madison served from 1809 to 1817.