University of Virginia Library

CHRONOLOGY OF JAMES MADISON.
1808–1819.

                                                                                                                                                                   

1808.	Secretary of State.
Feb. 1–14.	Negotiating with Rose.
To December. 1809.	Negotiating with England, France and Spain.
March 4.	Inaugurated as President.
April 19.	Issues proclamation restoring intercourse with Great Britain.
May 23.	Announces to Congress repeal of British orders.
July.	Goes to Montpelier.
July 31.	Receives news of disapproval of Erskine's agreement.
August.	Returns to Washington.
Aug. 9.	Issues proclamation renewing embargo.
Aug. 12.	Returns to Montpelier.
Oct. 1.	Meets Jackson, Erskine's successor.
Nov. 8.	Dismisses Jackson.
Nov. 29.	Sends first annual message to Congress.
1810.	President.
Jan. 3.	Recommends increase of armament.
May 1.	Approves bill repealing non-intercourse act.
July.	At Montpelier.
Oct.	Returns to Washington.
Oct. 27.	Issues proclamation taking possession of West Florida.
Nov. 2.	Issues proclamation renewing intercourse with France.
Dec. 5.	Sends second annual message to Congress.
1811.
	President.
Jan. 3.	Announces taking of West Florida to Congress.
Feb. 21.	Vetoes bill to incorporate Episcopal church in Alexandria.
Feb. 28.	Vetoes bill to set aside land for Baptist church.
March.	Dismisses Robert Smith as Secretary of State.
Nov. 5.	Sends third annual message to Congress.
Dec. 23.	Sends special message to Congress concerning Erie Canal.
1812.
	President.
March 9.	Sends Henry correspondence to Congress.
April 1.	Recommends general embargo.
May 18.	Renominated for the Presidency.
June 1.	Sends war message to Congress.
June 19.	Issues proclamation of war.
Nov. 4.	Fourth annual message to Congress.
1813.
	President.
Feb. 24.	Recommends prohibition of all trade in foreign bottoms.
March 4.	Inaugurated as President.
May 23.	Sends special message to Congress relative to Russian mediation.
Aug. 9.	Goes to Montpelier.
Dec. 9.	Sends fifth annual message to Congress.
1814.
	President.
May.	At Montpelier.
June 23–24.	Consults cabinet about terms of peace.
July 1.	Cabinet decides on defences for Washington.
Aug. 22.	Receives word of advance of enemy on Washington.
Aug. 23–24.	With the troops.
Aug. 24.	Flees from Washington.
Aug. 26.	At Brookville, Md.
Aug. 27.	Returns to Washington.
Aug. 29.	Dismisses Armstrong.
Sept. 1.	Issues proclamation concerning capture of Washington.
Sept. 29.	Sixth annual message to Congress.
Oct. 17.	Announces that he favors United States Bank.
1815.
	President.
Jan. 30.	Vetoes bank bill.
Feb. 18.	Sends treaty of peace to Congress.
Dec. 5	Seventh annual message to Congress.
1816.
	President.
April 10.	Signs bank bill.
June–Oct.	At Montpelier.
Dec. 3.	Eighth annual message to Congress.
1817.
Mar. 3.	Vetoes bill for internal improvement.
March 4.	Retires from Presidency.
Mar.–Dec.	In retirement at Montpelier.
June 27.	Accepts membership in Society for Encouragement of Domestic Manufactures.
1818.
Jan.–Dec.	In retirement at Montpelier.
Jan. 28	Gives names of authors of numbers of the Federalist.
May 12.	Delivers address on agriculture.
1819.
Jan.–Dec.	In retirement at Montpelier.
June 15.	Outlines plan for emancipation.
Sept. 21.	Discusses powers of general government and Supreme Court decision.