Photo courtesy of the Office of Communications

Photo by Dino Palomares

James Madison ’1771 entered Princeton as a sophomore in 1769, completed his degree in two years and then stayed for an extra year to privately study law and Hebrew with President Witherspoon, which effectively makes him the College’s first graduate student. He went on to a distinguished career in public service as a representative to the Continental Congress, Constitutional Convention, and United States Congress, as well as Secretary of State to Thomas Jefferson and the nation’s fourth President. This “Father of the Constitution” and co-author of the Federalist papers also served as the first President of the Alumni Association of Nassau Hall and helped found the University of Virginia with Jefferson. Princeton awarded Madison an honorary Doctor of Laws for his endeavors in framing the Constitution in 1787; today, the University annually grants the James Madison Medal to a Graduate School alumnus who has attained distinction in his career, public service, or the advancement of higher education.

• To learn more about James Madison, see Café Vivian picture #74 and 121.
  
  
• To learn more about John Witherspoon, see quotation #3 and 11, and Café Vivian picture #11,19, and 80.
  
  
• To learn more about Princetonians in national service, see quotation #8, 11, 17, 19, 20, 21, 25, 33, and 41, and Café Vivian picture #5, 15, 35, 41, 42, 74, 107, 110, and 119.
  
  
• To learn more about recipients of the James Madison Medal, see quotation #5, 30, and 31, and Café Vivian picture #70, 122, and 125.
  
  
• To learn more about recipients of Princeton honorary degrees, see quotation #2, 8, 12, 25, and 35, and Café Vivian picture #14, 21, 65, and 86.
  
  
• To learn more about notable Princeton undergraduate alumni, see icon #4, 5, and 10, quotation #4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 29, 33, 36, 37, and 41, and Café Vivian picture #1, 5, 7, 15, 17, 39, 41, 55, 57, 59, 74, 76, 84, 88, 99, 101, 102, 107, 110, and 123.
  
  
• To learn more about notable Princeton graduate alumni, see quotation #5, 30, 31, and 34 and Café Vivian picture #59, 70, and 131.

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