Eleanor Rose Madison (née Conway; January 9, 1731 – February 11, 1829) was a Virginia socialite and planter who was the mother of James Madison Jr., the 4th

president of the United States The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president directs the Federal government of the United States#Executive branch, executive branch of the Federal government of t ...

and Lieutenant General William Taylor Madison. She has been described as one of the strongest female influences in the life of her eldest son, James Madison Jr., and has been credited for her efforts to preserve the Montpelier estate.

Early life and family

Nelly Conway was born on January 9, 1731, in Port Conway, Virginia, the daughter of Francis Conway, Sr., a wealthy planter and tobacco merchant (the area's namesake) and Rebecca Catlett Conway. She grew up on the Belle Grove plantation and estate. She married James Madison Sr. on September 13, 1749, at the age of 18. They had 12 children: * James Madison Jr. (March 16, 1751 – June 28, 1836) * Francis Taylor Madison (June 18, 1753 – April 5, 1800) * Ambrose Madison (January 27, 1755 – October 3, 1793) * Catlett Madison (February 10, 1758 – March 18, 1758) * Eleanor Conway Madison (February 14, 1760 – December 24, 1802) * William Taylor Madison (May 5, 1762 – July 20, 1843) * Sarah Catlett Madison (August 17, 1764 – October 17, 1843) * Unnamed son (1766–1766), died one day after birth * Elizabeth Madison (February 6, 1768 – May 17, 1775) * unnamed stillborn son (July 12, 1770) * Reuben Madison (September 19, 1771 – June 5, 1775) * Frances Taylor Madison (October 4, 1774 – October 4, 1823)

Married life

Eleanor conway hite and son james madison hite charles peale polk

As an adult, Madison took charge of the early education of her children, educating them in reading, writing, and arithmetic. As the Madison children grew up, she played the role of active caregiver, often traveling to the homes of her family members who were sick or in need of support. She was actively involved in the running of the Montpelier household and 2,650 acre estate, and her family owned over 100 enslaved persons and several indentured servants. During the

American Revolution The American Revolution (1765–1783) was a colonial rebellion and war of independence in which the Thirteen Colonies broke from British America, British rule to form the United States of America. The revolution culminated in the American ...

, while her husband served as chairman of the Orange County Committee of Safety and as a colonel in the

Virginia militia The Virginia militia is an armed force composed of all citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia capable of bearing arms. The Virginia militia was established in 1607 as part of the English militia system. Militia service in Virginia was compulso ...

, Nelly Madison supported a drive among the women of Virginia to raise funds and supplies for the

Continental Army The Continental Army was the army of the United Colonies representing the Thirteen Colonies and later the United States during the American Revolutionary War. It was formed on June 14, 1775, by a resolution passed by the Second Continental Co ...

.Kukla, John.
Mr. Jefferson's Women
', p. 118 (New York: Knopf Books, 2007). She corresponded with

Martha Jefferson Martha Skelton Jefferson ( ''née'' Wayles; October 30, 1748 – September 6, 1782) was the wife of Thomas Jefferson from 1772 until her death. She served as First Lady of Virginia during Jefferson's term as governor from 1779 to 1781. She died ...

during this period. Nationally, the Ladies Association raised $300,000 to buy linen shirts for Washington's army. Madison was an avid reader and highly informed in public affairs and current events, and was described by Mary Cutts as a "lady of excellent education, strong mind, and good judgement." During her son's presidency (1809 to 1817), Nelly received stipend for her healths, and her son and his wife Dolley both wrote to her. Madison was an active

Episcopalian Anglicanism, also known as Episcopalianism in some countries, is a Western Christian tradition which developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protes ...

and admirer of preacher

James Waddel James Waddel (or Waddell, July 1739 – September 17, 1805) was an Irish American Presbyterian preacher from Virginia noted for his eloquence. He was a founding trustee of Liberty Hall (later Washington and Lee University), when it was made into ...

. Following the death of her husband in 1801, Madison continued to reside in her own wing of Montpelier and maintained a close relationship with her son James and daughter-in-law Dolley. She would often receive visitors in her semi-private wing on the south end of the residence and had her own household.

Death

Madison died on February 11, 1829, at the age of 98, and is buried at Montpelier. Historians have regarded Madison as one of the strongest female influences in the life of President James Madison, and she has been credited for her efforts to preserve and enhance the Montpelier estate through various renovations.

Legacy

Her descendants include Confederate Brigadier General James Edwin Slaughter (her great-grandson). Montpelier, the Madison family's estate, has been designated a

National Historic Landmark A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a National Register of Historic Places property types, building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the Federal government of the United States, United States government f ...

. Archeologists have restored her traditional sitting room in the house. Her will is in the permanent collection of the

Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is a research library in Washington, D.C., serving as the library and research service for the United States Congress and the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It also administers Copyright law o ...

, and one of her portraits is on display in the

National Portrait Gallery National Portrait Gallery may refer to: * National Portrait Gallery (Australia), in Canberra * National Portrait Gallery (Sweden), in Mariefred *National Portrait Gallery (United States), in Washington, D.C. *National Portrait Gallery, London ...

. The two portraits of Madison by

Charles Peale Polk Charles Peale Polk (March 17, 1767 – May 6, 1822) was an American portrait painter and the nephew of artist Charles Willson Peale. Biography Polk was born in Annapolis, Maryland, to Elizabeth Digby Peale and Robert Polk. At age eight or ten ( ...

have been regarded as "

masterpiece A masterpiece, , or ; ; ) is a creation that has been given much critical praise, especially one that is considered the greatest work of a person's career or a work of outstanding creativity, skill, profundity, or workmanship. Historically, ...

s." Author William Judson Hampton wrote that her son James inherited his mother's "deep studious nature" and that she influenced his religious convictions and interest in

religious liberty Freedom of religion or religious liberty, also known as freedom of religion or belief (FoRB), is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice ...

Early life and family

Married life

Death

Legacy

References

Further reading