In 1789, Dolley became engaged to John Todd Jr., a young Quaker lawyer. Even when Dolley's family became in debt he had stood by her and on January 7, 1790 they got married. Dolley and John Todd had their first child in 1792, John Payne Todd. Their second son was born in 1793 his name was William Temple Todd. In August 1793 a deadly yellow fever struck and engulfed Philadelphia. The disease took Dolley's husband and youngest son with it. She also lost three of her brothers and her parents-in-law. One year later Dolley met James Madison. They got married on September 15, 1794. Together they bought a large house and decorated it with new furnishings. They went to plays, balls, they visited, and gossiped. Since James was a congressmen he was invited everywhere and Dolley tagged along. In 1797 James decided that eight years in Congress were enough and decided not to run again. They left Philadelphia and moved to Virginia. The Madison's estate, Montpelier, was located at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. In 1801 James's father died meaning the Montpelier would be now James's and Dolley's. Also in 1801 the Madison's friend Thomas Jefferson took office as the third president of the United States. Jefferson chose James to be his Secretary of State which meant that the Madison's would have to live in Washington D.C. They moved in to a large house two blocks away from the President's House. James Madison's job was to handle all of the correspondence and interviews with foreign diplomats. In 1804 Dolley's sister, Anna, who had been living with the Madison’s for over 10 years got married causing Dolley to be very upset. She stayed in her room for a couple of days. She missed her sister. The next year Dolley got an ulcerated knee. The doctor told Dolley to stay in bed so it could heal. Even though she had to stay in bed she still socialized with her friends! She returned to Washington D.C. in November when her knee was healed. In 1807 Dolley's mom died and in 1808 Dolley's sister died. In 1808 the Republican party nominated James Madison for president. During the spring and summer of 1808 Dolley entertained a lot, she hoped it would help her husband in his campaign. James won the election, and became the fourth president of the United States. Dolley threw the first inaugural ball ever in Washington D.C. People came from all around to come to the ball. The Madison's had to decorate the White House by themselves since Jefferson took his own furniture so when they moved in there was nothing there. When they finished their first room the Madison’s began giving weekly parties. In the beginning of James's presidency both France and Great Britain wanted the other to stop trading with the United States. America wanted to stay neutral and trade with both. American ships were being stopped, American sailors were being captured and American goods were being stolen. Dolley's job was to bring everyone together with a party so they could discuss the issues; she was very good at that. Dolley predicted war and she was right. In 1812 the U.S. declared war on Great Britain. Dolley followed the progress of the war. The British began marching toward Washington D.C. but Dolley wasn't scared. She stayed at the White House while others fled. She finally decided it was best for her to leave but before she did she filled a wagon with valuable documents and then sent it to the Bank of Maryland for safekeeping. The last thing she did before she left the White House was to save the portrait of George Washington that was screwed into the wall. She left just in time, only hours later the British came and burnt down the White House taking all of the Madison's belongings with it. All that was left of the White House was its outer shell. In 1815 the American's signed a peace treaty with Great Britain. James retired in 1817 and the Madison's returned to Montpelier. When the Madison's returned Dolley spent much of her free time supervising work in the house, in the kitchen and working in her garden. Money was starting to get scarce; people who owed the Madison's money often didn't repay because they had no money. James had to take out a bank loan. There were also troubles with Dolley's son John Payne Todd. He was always getting in debt and always relied on his mother and stepfather to bail him out. Dolley found out in 1829 that he was being held in a Philadelphia debtor's prison. James had his first bad attack of rheumatism in 1830 and in 1832 he couldn't leave his bed. Dolley sat by him at all times, leaving him for not more than a couple of minutes at a time. Also in 1832 Dolley's sister, Anna, died. On June 28, 1836 James died. After James's death Dolley tried to publish James's papers but failed. By that time Dolley needed someone to care for her after so many years of caring for others. Her niece, Anna Payne, took care of her. In January 1837 Dolley tried again to sell James's papers and succeeded in selling three volumes of his manuscripts to congress for $30,000. Dolley moved back to Washington D.C. in 1837. She continued to go to social events. By 1840 Dolley was in a little bit of financial trouble. She couldn't pay back some of the loans she took out and Montpelier wasn't making a profit. Dolley moved back to Montpelier and attempted to pay off her debts. She once again tried to publish the last of James's manuscripts but failed. She had no other choice then to sell Montpelier. Dolley once again moved back to Washington, this time for good. In 1849 she began to weaken and eventually had to stay in bed. Dolley Madison died on July 12, 1849 at the age of 81. In the 1880's Dolley's grandniece published a book of her letters. By the 1920's companies started naming their products after her. After the 1960's most of the products that were named after her were no longer used. But no one will ever forget Dolley Madison. She was the model of what a first lady should be.