Born March 16: James Madison

America's fourth president, James Madison, was born March 16, 1751, in the Virginia Colony, at Port Conway. He attended the College of New Jersey (now known as Princeton) and served in the Continental Congress.

Madison is generally identified as the father of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. In 1788, with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, he wrote The Federalist Papers, a collection of essays that promoted the adoption of the Constitution.

He was appointed Secretary of State by Thomas Jefferson, and succeeded Jefferson as president in 1809.

Growing conflicts with the British led to the War of 1812, and when British troops advanced on Washington, the diminutive president led the militia while his wife, Dolley, collected valuable artifacts from the White House, including Gilbert Stuart's portrait of George Washington, before the British set fire to the president's home.

Though Madison endured numerous health concerns, his two vice presidents fared worse: both died in office. George Clinton died of a heart attack in 1812; Elbridge Gerry, elected with Madison later that same year, took ill and died in November 1814.

Madison lived until 1836, reaching the age of 85.

The first U.S. stamp to picture Madison is the $2 blue stamp (Scott 262) from the 1894 issue, the first series printed by the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing. The portrait was engraved by G.F.C. Smillie.

The stamp design was used again 100 years later, on a souvenir sheet of four $2 stamps commemorating the centennial of BEP postage stamp production (Scott 2875).