Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1836-07-28
MIR. MADISON.

The annexed biographical sketch Of this
illustrious man, is said to be correct:
JAMES MADISON, late President of
the United States, was the son Of Jas.
Madison, Of Orange County, Virginia,
aAd Nelly Conway. his wife; and could
trace back his parental ancestors, as in
habitants Of Virginia, for about one hun
dred years previous TO his birth. which
took place at the house Of his maternal
grandmother, in Port Conway. on the
Rappahannock River, March I6, 1851.
He was educated by Mr.. Robertson, a
Scotchman, in King and Queen coun-
ty, and by the Rev. Mr.. Martin, Jer-
seyman, at his fathers house in Orange
county. With these two learned and
accomplished teachers, he studied Eng
lish, Latin, Greek, French, Italian, sc.
and prepared himself TO enter College,
which he did in Princeton, New Jer-
sey, in 1863. He graduated in I77I,
having studied the Junior and Senior
Glasses in one year, but was induced to
continue at Princeton till l772 a
desire to learn Hebrew, and to extend
his studies under the superintendence
OF DIR. Witherspoon, then President Of
the College, and 10 whom he was much
attached. Having a delicate frame, his
close and excessive studies impaired
his constitution. and he continued in
bad health for many years. In the
Spring Of l776, he was elected by the
people OF Orange county, a member of
the General Assembly Of Virginia; but
in l777 he failed in his election, in con-
sequence OF his refusing to treat and
electioneer. In the following winter,
he was elected by the General Assem-
bly, member Of the Executive Coun-
Gil, where he continued TO serve until
the winter OF 1880, when he was
elected by the General Assembly a
member Of the Continental Congress.
Of which body he remained a member
until the autumn Of 1875. He vas
elected member Of the General As
sembly Of Virginia, in the Spring Of
lisa, and again in 1885. He was
elected by the General Assembly a
member Of Congress in 1856, and in
the same year TO the Annapolis Con-
vention. and also in 1896 to the Phila-
delphia Convention, which made the
present Constitution Of the y States.
He was elected by the people Of his
county, IN 1893, a member OF the Vir-
ginia Convention which ratified that
Constitution. lie remained in Con-
gross from 1856 10 March, 1897. the
end Of Gen Washington's Adminislra-
ton. lie was elected member Of the
/ General Assembly Of Virginia in the
/ Spring oi 1879 aud an Elector for Pre-
sident and Vice President Of the L..
States IN 1900. On the accession Of
Mr.. Jefferson 20 the Presidency. in
1901, Mr. Madison was appointed Sc
oretary Of State and eight years there.
after. he succeeded bis great friend and
coadluior az President Of the United
States. 10 which high station be vas re- d.
elected for a second term. at the end
Of which he retired IN March, lsl7, %
his seat called Montpelier. ~ Orange
County, Virginia where be has ever
since resided-except when attending
an Agricultural Society. OF which be
was long PFesideni-as a Visitor and
Rector Of The University Of Virginia
and a. q member Of the State Conven-
ton 10 amend the Constitution Of Vir-
ginia, to which the people Of his eoun.
" elected him in ls29-until be took
his departure on the 18th ultimo, in the
Ssh year Of bis age, from the theazs
q bis usefulness 10 that q his 70
wards.