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At 5 feet 4 inches, Madison was America’s shortest Commander-in-Chief but he left behind a towering legacy. Here are some lesser-known details about the “Father of the U.S. Constitution” and the colorful life he led.
1. James Madison was prone to sickness.
Madison wasn’t the healthiest kid or adult for that matter. A frequent victim of nasty stomach aches, he’d also weather attacks “somewhat resembling epilepsy” throughout his life.
2. James Madison fought and won an oratory duel with Patrick Henry.
This was no small feat. Throughout their home state of Virginia, Patrick Henry was renowned as a public speaking heavyweight who wooed crowds wherever he went. Thomas Jefferson declared that the booming debater spoke “as Homer wrote.” Madison, in contrast, had a quiet voice and little talent for theatrics.