Video: 'President James Madison 1st Inaugural Address - Hear and Read the Full Text'

(Saturday, March 4, 1809) — James Madison, 57, was inaugurated as the 4th President of the United States today in the House Chamber at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., with Chief Justice John Marshall administering the oath of office.

Madison succeeded President Thomas Jefferson, 65, who had declined to run for a third term and threw his strong support behind Madison, a fellow Virginian.

Vice President George Clinton, 69, was sworn-in for a second term as the 4th Vice President of the United States.

Madison and Clinton, Democratic-Republicans, had defeated the Federalist ticket of Charles C. Pinckney-Rufus King in the 1808 general election.

The first official inaugural ball occurred tonight at Long’s Hotel, with ticket prices being $4 (currently about $64).