Dolley painted by William Elwell. Dolley Payne Todd Madison (May 20, 1768 - July 12, 1849) was the of President James Madison, and First Lady of the United States from 1809 to 1817. She was notable for her social gifts and helped define the role of the First Lady. Her success as a hostess contributed to increasing the popularity of Madison as president. In 1790, She married John Todd, a Quaker lawyer, and they had two sons: Payne and William. In 1793 a yellow fever epidemic broke out and her husband and youngest son, William died. She was a widow at the age of 25. Madison was 17 years her senior and, at the age of 43, a longstanding bachelor, but after a brisk courtship followed she accepted his proposal of marriage. Since he was not a Quaker, she was expelled from the Society of Friends. They were married on September 15, 1794. She died at her home in Washington in 1849 at the age of 81.