James, fourth president of the United States of America, was born in Virginia in 1758. He was educated at the college of Princeton, in New Jersey, where he graduated in 1772, and commenced to prepare himself for the bar. He began his political career in 1776 as a member of the Virginia Convention, when he gave early proof of high talent and patriotic zeal. He took his seat as a member of Congress in 1789. After the settlement of the dispute between Great Britain and the colonies, Madison returned to private life, to prosecute his legal studies and extend his acquaintance with natural history, his favourite branch of science. He was again elected to the Virginia legislature in 1784, when he planned and took an active part in completing the constitution of the United States. His personal record of the debates of the convention respecting the constitution is the only complete or authentic information on that subject extant. He was chosen a member of the first Congress under the constitution in 1789, when he gained the friendship and esteem of General Washington and other eminent men of his time. When Jefferson was elected president, he became his secretary of state, and took an active part in the negotiations then pending between the United States and Spain, Britain, and France. His Examination of the Doctrines of National Law is said to be one of the ablest papers on the relative rights of neutral and belligerent powers to be met with. He succeeded Jefferson as president in 1809; and one of his first acts was to forbid all communication with England and France till those powers should revoke their orders in council and their Berlin decrees. France complied, but England stood firm, and this induced a five years' war between the United States and Britain. Notwithstanding the misfortunes of this war, and the active opposition of the federalists, Madison retained the presidency till 1817, when, peace being concluded with Britain, he retired from office with a high reputation for eminent ability and spotless integrity. With the exception of occasional assistance given to the legislature of Virginia in revising their constitution, and the discharge of the duties of rector of their university, Madison remained in the closest retirement till his death in 1836, at the advanced age of eighty-five. His debates, letters, papers, essays, and miscellaneous works, were purchased by Congress for 30,000 dollars, and published in 3 vols. large 8vo, under the editorial superintendence of H. D. Gilpin, in 1840.

a city of the United States of North America, capital of the state of Wisconsin, Dane county, on an isthmus between Third and Fourth Lakes, 80 miles W. of Milwaukee. The land on which it stands rises abruptly from the lakes; and has a generally unequal surface, commanding, however, a most extensive and charming prospect. The capital, built of limestone, is situate on a platform 70 feet above the lakes; and to the W. of this, on an eminence nearly 60 feet higher, stands the Wisconsin university, founded in 1851. Iron and wool are manufactured here, and a brisk trade is carried on in agricultural produce. Water power is abundant; and by railway the town is connected with the Mississippi and Michigan Lake. Pop. (1850) 1525, (1865) 8664.

a town and river-port of the United States of North America, capital of Jefferson county, Indiana, on the right bank of the Ohio, 86 miles S.S.E. of Indianapolis. It is beautifully situate in a valley nearly 3 miles long, and inclosed on the N. by steep and rugged hills. The streets are well built, and the houses are mostly of brick. Its chief edifices are—a court-house, a gaol, two market-houses, and several large schools. The inhabitants are principally employed in manufacturing cotton, wool, iron, and oil. Steamers from this port communicate regularly with the Mississippi throughout the year, navigation being usually open here all winter. Madison was settled in 1808. Pop. (1850) 8681, (1865) about 12,000.