Topics Related to politics

Born Dolley Payne in 1768 in Guilford County, her family moved to Virginia and later to Philadelphia. Widowed young Madison met senator and future president James Madison in 1794. As a socialite and hostess, Madison knew all of the first 11 presidents on a first-name basis.  A lifelong patron of the arts and sciences, she promoted social progress into the middle of the 19th century.