She was a Quaker and had two sons. Her husband and son died from a yellow fever epidemic and she was left a widow. Her neighbor Aaron Burr introduced Dolley to James Madison and the two of them became engaged but since Madison wasn’t a Quaker, she was expelled for marrying outside her faith.
In 1814 the British invaded and burned down the White House. Dolley Madison risked her own safety and refused to leave the estate until she had the painting of George Washington with her.
