| The Madisons tied the knot way back on September 15, 1794, choosing the same day as his parents. Many were quite shocked by their union. After all, Dolley was a gorgeous 25-year-old Quaker widow with a toddler and no formal education. In contrast, James was a dour 42-year-old bachelor with a degree from Princeton and an aristocratic background. He was an established Founding Father, Father of the Constitution, architect of the Bill of Rights, and a sitting Congressman from Virginia. Dolley stood four inches taller than him AND outweighed his hundred pounds by a generous amount. She was incredibly social and gregarious, while he was shy and awkward in groups. Despite their many differences, though, they had a remarkably strong marriage. In fact, they disliked being apart for any length of time. Dolley once declared, “Our hearts understand each other.” Happy anniversary to Washington City’s very first “Power Couple!” |
