Description

Easton Press leather edition of Irving Brant's "The Fourth President: A Life of James Madison," a Collector's editions, one of the LIBRARY OF THE PRESIDENTS series, published in 1978. Bound in brown leather, the book has decorative paper end leaves, satin book marker, hubbed spine, gold gilding on three edges---in near FINE condition. COLLECTOR'S Notes is included. James Madison, who lived from 1751-1836, was the chief architect of our country's Constitution. Born in Port Conway, VIRGINIA, he graduated from the College of New Jersey (later Princeton). Brant writes that Madison might have become a clergyman or a lawyer, but from 1775 he was almost continuously in public office. An active and intelligent delegate to the Continental Congress sessions of 1780-83 and 1787-88, he attained his first federal position as U.S. Congressman (1789-97), and served as Secretary of State during the Thomas JEFFERSON administration, 1801-09. He was elected to the Presidency in 1808 and again in 1812. Physically, Madison was the smallest of all our presidents, being only five feet six inches tall, and weighing but 100 pounds. Reticent in public, nearly inaudible in speech---yet witty in conversation--he was a scholarly man. Madison married widow, DOLLY PAYNE, a dashingly attractive Quaker girl. Madison was forty-three years old when he married Dolly and later adopted her son. James and Dolly did not have any children; however, their marriage was seemingly very loving. Dolly served as JEFFERSON'S social hostess at the White House and later when her husband was President, she saved the GEORGE WASHINGTON painting before the British burned the White House in 1814. Dolly was infamous for her "turban hats" and gracious style of entertaining. In theory, Madison was opposed to owning slaves but his family owned nearly 100. When Madison returned on visits to his family's plantation at Montpelier, the slaves were "elated" and would shout, "Mister Jemmy has come." He sought ways to make a living that did not involve slave labor, buying 900 acres in partnership with James Monroe, but this 'western land' did not provided the money Madison needed. Madison, who served during the WAR OF 1812 with the British, was personal friends with GEORGE WASHINGTON, THOMAS JEFFERSON, and JAMES MONROE---and they were often referred to as the "Virginia dynasty." 681 pages. Combined shipping is available.