An Appreciation of James Madison, A Virginia President by Frank Overton Brown Jr. this appreciation simply as James Madison or Madison), who served two terms (1809–1817) as president of the United States, was born in Port Conway, Virginia on March 16, 1751. For most of his life, he lived in Orange County, Virginia, at the family home called Montpelier. He was the eldest of the siblings in his family. Throughout his lifetime, James Madison suffered with and persevered through chron-ic health issues. As an adult, he was estimated to be between 5 feet 2, inches, and 5 feet, 4 inches, tall and to weigh between one hundred and one hundred and twenty pounds. He was typically well-groomed and preferred to dress in black. He was described as being a genius. 16 VIRGINIA LAWYER | February 2020 | Vol. 68 | SENIOR LAWYERS CONFERENCE James Madison Jr. (referred to in Having been tutored and taught locally in his youth, in 1769, at age 18, James Madison enrolled at the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University). Madison was taught and mentored by the school’s president, John Witherspoon, who later became the only clergyman and college president to sign the Declaration of Independence, and also served as a member of the Continental Congress. Madison graduated in 1771 and spent an additional year as the college’s first gradu-ate student. John Witherspoon emphasized “Common Sense Philosophy” in his students, which would stand Madison in good stead for the rest of his life. James Madison possessed many skills and qualities: patriot, politician, statesman, author, activist, chess player (as you brush up on your chess skills, you will recall why it is tellingly significant that Madison liked to play chess so much), well read in the law (although not a lawyer), an effective listener and note-tak-er, purpose-driven, yet flexible, supporter of religious liberty and conscience, legislator, www.vsb.org