Dolley Madison: The First Woman In Washington

Oftentimes, when thinking about the courageous heroes of the United State’s history, many heroes go forgotten or unappreciated. Dolley Madison may have been the wife of President James Madison, but that is not all she was. She is a great American historical figure in her own right, forging many successes throughout her time in Washington. Dolley was loved by the American people because of her friendliness and her ability relate and interact with the common people. In fact, she was the first woman in American history to have the title of “first lady” bestowed upon her. As a young woman she lost her family, as a young wife she aided the presidency, and as the First Lady she saved a historic piece of art. All of these things make her incredibly brave and have marked her down in history as an unforgettable heroine. At the young age of 22, Dolley married a Quaker lawyer from Philadelphia, John Todd, with whom she had two children. After only three

James, Dolley, and Dolley’s son all moved out to Washington to support his career. While Secretary Madison was important, Dolley was invaluable to Jefferson and his White House. The President often called on Dolley to act as first lady at official functions, because he himself was a widower. Dolley aided Jefferson and other members of his cabinet when dealing with foreign dignitaries by teaching them proper etiquette; she headed the fundraising for Lewis and Clark’s historical exploration of the West. At a time when a woman’s place in politics was to smile and look pretty, Dolley used her charm and networking skills to attract votes to her husband, which was a major help in winning him the fourth presidency. Madison’s opponent in the presidential race, Charles Pinckney, even said, “I might have had a better chance had I faced Mr. Madison alone,” speaking of Dolley’s popularity with