James Madison (1751 – 1836) was the fourth president of the United States (1809–1817). He was instrumental in drafting the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights. From his plantation known as Montpelier, he owned hundreds of slaves. He supported the three-fifths compromise to the U.S. Constitution, that allowed three-fifths of the enumerated population of slaves to be counted for representation (though slaves could not vote). As president, he led the nation into the War of 1812 with Great Britain. His political party was Democratic-Republican.
