詹姆斯·麦迪逊于1751年出生在美国的弗吉尼亚州，是美国的第四任总统。他家里有12个兄弟姐妹，他是家中的长子。他曾在普林斯顿大学(当时名为“新泽西学院”)学习历史和政治。他通晓法律，但他学习法律是因为他觉得法律很有意思，而不是因为他想成为一名律师。他被称为美国的“宪法之父”。
Madison started out in politics at an early age. He served in the Virginia state legislature from1776 to 1779 and became known as a protégé of Thomas Jefferson. During this time, he helpeddraft the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. He served a second term in the Virginia Houseof Delegates from 1784 to 1786. He gained a reputation for his ability to build coalitions.
麦迪逊很早便开始了他的政治生涯。他被称为托马斯·杰斐逊的门生，1776年至1779年时，他在维吉尼亚州议会服务。他在此期间协助起草了《弗吉尼亚宗教自由法令》。他1784年至1786年连任两届弗吉尼亚州众议院的代表。他善于创建联盟，并因此而闻名。
Madison was 36 when he attended the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia and made amajor contribution to its ratification. He felt he hadn't earned the title of "Father of theConstitution" and wrote that it was not "the offspring of a single brain, but the work of manyheads and many hands". In Congress, he helped frame the Bill of Rights and enact the firstrevenue legislation.
麦迪逊在36岁时参加了美国费城的制宪会议，并为它的批准作出了重大贡献。他自认为并不是所谓的“宪法之父”，他写道：这部宪法并不是“一个人的杰作，而是众人的智慧与汗水的结晶。” 他在国会任职期间曾协助制定《权利法案》的框架，并颁布了第一条税收法。
Madison served as President between 1809 and 1817. He led America into the War of 1812 totry to end British interference in American affairs. The war ended in 1815 and is often called"the Second War of American Independence". After the war he promoted a stronger nationalgovernment and signed a bill that created the Second Bank of the United States. He died at theage of 85 in 1836.
麦迪逊1809年至1817年担任美国总统。他试图结束英国干涉美国内政的局面，曾带领美国人参加“1812年战争”。该战争于1815年结束，通常被称为美国的“第二次独立战争”。他在战后促进建立了一个更强有力的美国政府，并签署了法案成立美国第二银行。麦迪逊1836年逝世，享年85岁。
