Father of the Constitution: #4 James Madison

I apologize for the 1-day delay. This ended up being a collaboration between Jeph and Me. Enjoy! and I look forward to any discussion that comes from it.

1. Stats:
1. Born 16 Mar, 1751
2. Married Dolly Dandridge Payne Todd (A widow with a son)
2. He suffered from stress-induced seizures as a child (and some reports that they occurred into adulthood).
3. 1771: Graduated from the College of New Jersey (Princeton)
4. Madison is considered Princeton's first Graduate student.
5. Youngest Congressman in the Continental Congress of 1779, at 29.
6. Aaron Burr introduced James to his wife, Dolly.
7. In addition to seizures, he was a sickly child and adult. He joined the Virginia militia but gave it up and went into public service/politics as he wasn't healthy enough to carry on as a soldier.
8. Led the debate in the Constitutional Convention, championing the idea of Separation of powers between branches of government. .  
9. Secretary of State for the Jefferson Cabinet.
10. Like Jefferson, an unabashed bibliophile. He and Jefferson exchanged books throughout their lives.
11. Wrote 26 of the Federalist Papers, second in number only to Alexander Hamilton.
12. Only President to have ever lost a war to Canada.
13. Left political office in 1797, but created an opposing party to the federalists with Jefferson
14. In 1776: he drafted Virginia's constitution
15. The VA Constitution guaranteed of religious liberty.
16. Defendant in Marbury v. Madison as Secretary of State, the Case that established the SCOTUS’s right of Constitutional review over laws passed by Congress.
17. Initially opposed the Bill of rights. He feared that a list of rights could potentially limit rights that were not explicitly written.
18. Major proponent (and author) of the passage of the Bill of Rights.
19. Unlike the Washington and Jefferson, James Madison was short. In fact, he was the shortest President at only 5'4" and weighted about 100lbs.
20. His Presidency set the tone for the role of the first lady. Dolly was a social butterfly and set the precedent to have the First Lady decorate and host many social events.
21. This list is about her husband, but we cannot minimize Dolley's play in her husband's government. Dolley Madison is the only First Lady to have an Honorary seat on the Congress floor.
22. Non-Intercourse Act of 1809: Replaced the Embargo act of 1807 (Which made all exports from the US illegal). This Act lifted the Embargo on all countries except France and Great Britain.The point was to destroy their economies; but backfired and ultimately damaged the US' economy.
23. 1810: Non-Intercourse Act was repealed and replaced with Macon Bill No. 2, which sweetened the deal for France and Great Britain. The bill lifted embargos with both countries temporarily and stated that whichever stopped attacking US ships the US would stop trade with the other. (Madison opposed this action).
24. In opposition to the Federalists urging of creating a Navy, Madison suggested it would be more beneficial to hire the Portuguese Navy to protect the US interests.
25. 5th Secretary of State
26. Opposed the Bank of the United states as established by Hamilton. The charger expired after its 20 years, and Madison let the charter expire. After realizing it was difficult to pay for things (like war), Congress passed a bill to establish the second bank of the US. Madison vetoed this attempt.
27. He approved the second bill in 1816, approving the second national bank.
28. His face appeared on the $5000 bill (which stopped being printed in 1945
29. He is the only President to have had 2 Vice Presidents die in office.
30. He completed his Presidential term without appointing a 3rd VP.
31. Louisiana and Illinois became states during his presidency.
32. Madison was the last surviving signer of the Constitution.
33. His doctor offered him stimulants to extend his life so he could die on July 4th, which would have been the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
34. He died 28 June 1836
35. His slave, Paul Jennings wrote what would become the first Memoir of life inside the White House.
36. He supported 'repatriation' of freed slaves--sending them to Africa.
37. He was one of only a couple Presidents to accompany their soldiers into battle.
38. When British soldiers came to DC, he borrowed pistols from his Secretary of Treasury and went to battle.
39. Helped in the founding of University of Virginia
40. 1826, he assumed leadership of the school when Jefferson died.
41. He was the first president to wear pants rather that the fancy knee-breeches.
42. Madison wrote George Washington's 1st Inaugural address.
43. Left the Presidency poorer than when he started (similar to Washington and Jefferson)
44. 1829: at the age of 78 Madison was chosen as a representative to help revise the Virginian Constitution in Richmond.

http://americanhistory.about.com/od/jamesmadison/tp/10-Things-To-Know-About-James-Madison.htm
http://www.american-historama.org/1801-1828-evolution/non-intercourse-act-1809.htm
http://mentalfloss.com/article/62200/16-fun-facts-james-madisons-birthday
http://www.history.com/news/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-james-madison
Presidents Fact Book (Matuz 2009)