University of Virginia Library

CHRONOLOGY OF JAMES MADISON.
1751–1783.

                                                                                                                                     

1751. March 16.	Born at Port Conway, King George County, Virginia, at the house of his maternal grandmother.
1751.	Removed to Montpelier in Orange County.
1763.	Sent to school to Donald Robertson in King and Queen County.
1765–9.	Under the private tuition of Rev. Thomas Martin.
1769.	Enters Princeton.
1771. Oct. 7.	Graduates from Princeton.
1772.	Returns to Montpelier.
1773.	At home teaching his younger brothers and sisters.
1774. Spring.	Visits New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
1774. Dec.	Chosen a member of County Committee of Orange.
1775.	Assists in enlisting for defense.
1775. May 9.	Writes the address "To Captain Patrick Henry and the Gentlemen Independents of Hanover."
1776. April.	Elected a member for Orange County of the Virginia Convention.
1776. May 6.	Takes his seat in the Convention.
1776. May 16.	Appointed on the Committee to draft a Declaration of Rights and Plan of Government for Virginia.
1776. June 10.	Offers his amendment for greater religious liberty.
1776. Oct. 6.	Takes his seat in the House of Delegates.
1776.	Meets Thomas Jefferson.
1777. April.	Loses re-election to the House of Delegates.
1777. Nov. 13.	Elected by the General Assembly to the Governor's Council.
1778. Jan. 14.	Takes his seat in the Governor's Council.
1778.	At Williamsburg, lodging with his cousin, Rev. James Madison.
1779. Dec. 14.	Chosen by the General Assembly a representative in the Continental Congress.
1780. March 20.	Takes his seat in the Continental Congress.
1780. Oct. 17.	Instructions to John Jay on "Boundaries and Free Navigation of the Mississippi."
1780. Nov.	Proposes a discontinuance of emissions of paper money.
1780. Dec. 13.	Requests instruction from General Assembly on the Mississippi question jointly with Bland.
1781.	Still in Philadelphia.
1781.	Receives Benjamin Harrison, "Delegate Extraordinary" from Virginia.
1781. April 16.	Discusses project for applying coercive measures to the States.
1781. April.	Brings subject of Virginia land cession before Congress again.
1781. Oct.	This subject again.
1781. Nov. 13.	Suggests that Virginia compliment Lafayette.
1782.	Still in Philadelphia.
1782. Jan. 7.	The new bank authorized by Congress opened. His distressing personal finances.
1782. May.	The Virginia cession again.
1782. July 5.	Reports instructions to Adams at The Hague.
1782. Sept.	The Virginia cession under debate. He urges compromise.
1782. Nov. 4.	Begins his reports of debates in Congress.
1782. Nov. 12.	Raises objection to the mode of executing the orders of Congress.
1782. Nov. 21.	Moves that Secretary of Foreign Affairs be authorized to keep foreign ministers advised of events in Congress.
1782. Nov. 22.	Reports in favor of ratifying Franklin's order liberating Cornwallis in exchange for Laurens.
1782. Nov. 26.	Moves that Congress give credit for State emissions of paper money.
1782. Dec. 4.	Appointed on Committee to confer with members of Pennsylvania legislature.
1782. Dec. 7.	Speaks on subject of depreciation of currency.
1782. Dec. 12.	Presents report on publication in a Boston paper of secret proceedings of Congress.
1782. Dec. 16.	Presents answer to Rhode Island's objections to proposed impost.
1782. Dec. 24.	Communicates to Congress Virginia's repeal of the impost law.
1782. Dec. 31.	Urges instructions to ministers to endeavor to secure commercial freedom with Great Britain and dependencies.
1783.	Still in Philadelphia.
1783. Jan. 8.	Contends against taxation by valuation of land.
1783. Jan. 13.	Moves application for further loans in Europe.
1783. Jan. 23.	Reports list of books proper for Congress to buy.
1783. Jan. 28.	Moves the necessity of permanent funds.
1783. Feb. 7.	Brings up question of ascertaining valuation of land.
1783. Feb. 21.	Speaks on the subject of general revenue.
1783. Feb. 28.	Speaks on same subject.
1783. March 19.	Speaks on the treaty of peace.
1783. March 22.	Seconds motion to disclose to Spain intended British expedition against Florida confided to Adams.
1783. March 26.	Defends the conduct of the American ministers to negotiate treaty of peace.
1783. March 27.	Advocates assuming expenses of the States in the war.
1783. April 3.	Appointed on committee with Hamilton to report arrangements is consequence of peace.
1783. April 9.	Opposes appointment of a committee on the western country.
1783. April 17.	Reports amendment providing for determining expenses of the States.
1783. April 26.	Address to the States on the subject of revenue.
1783. April 27.	Accompanying James Floyd and his daughter, Catherine, to Brunswick.
1783 May 3.	Returns to Philadelphia.