James Madison Museum: Madison at 83 by Longacre

Portrait of James Madison by James Longacre. (Photo Credit: James Madison Museum of Orange County Heritage

The following column was originally published as a blog by Bethany Sullivan, director of the James Madison Museum of Orange County Heritage. Discover more of her work here.

This portrait was the last painted of James Madison during his lifetime. James Barton Longacre visited Madison at Montpelier in July of 1833. Longacre was working on a collection of "distinguished Americans" for a series of bound biographical sketches and portraits. (Madison is in Volume III.) Following their time together at Montpelier, Longacre wrote to Madison that their visit was "beyond most other events" of his life. 

The portrait is oil on wood. On July 1, 1971, the painting was purchased from the estate of Mary Madison Lee by Dr. and Mrs. George Shackelford. Mary Madison Lee is linked to the Madison Family through her father's family. Her seventh or eighth great-grandfather was Col. James Taylor II, who also the great-grandfather of James Madison Jr.

Self-portrait by Longacre earlier in his life. (Image Credit: Smithsonian Institution)

James Barton Longacre (1794-1869)

Longacre was a portraitist and an engraver. He became the chief engraver for the U.S. Mint following the death of Christian Gobrecht and served in that position from Sept. 16, 1844, until his death on Jan. 1, 1869.

Longacre was born on Aug. 11, 1794, on a farm in Delaware County, Pa., to Sarah and Peter Longacre. His mother died in his youth and at the age of 12, after apprenticing in a bookshop, he began demonstrating notable artistic skills. Those skills gained him an apprenticeship with George Murray. Murray was a principal in a Philadelphia engraving firm that originated with first United States Mint Chief Engraver Robert Scot.

Longacre's skills earned him a reputation as a proficient engraver, and he opened his own firm in Philadelphia in 1819. He provided elaborate book illustrations and other detailed artistic works — endeavors that helped him meet some of the most prominent figures of his time, including South Carolina Sen. John C. Calhoun, who had served as vice president under John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson. In 1827, Longacre married his wife, Elizabeth Stiles, with whom he had five children. Financial disaster struck during the Andrew Jackson administration called the “Panic of 1837."

The panic of 1837 was a financial crisis in the United States that triggered a multi-year economic depression. Fiscal and monetary policies in the United States and Great Britain, the global movements of gold and silver, a collapsing land bubble, and falling cotton prices were all to blame. Evidence of the panic’s effects ranged from mild to severe and can be found in higher rates of unemployment, bankruptcies, hunger, urban unrest, and deflation. ("The Economic Historian", Stephen Campbell, 8/15/2022)

Image from thedailytelegraph.com

Longacre declared bankruptcy and traveled around the nation selling books while his family remained in Philadelphia. The close of 1837 found Longacre back in Philadelphia working for an engraving firm known as Toppan, Draper, Longacre. In late 1844, Sen. Calhoun exerted his influence and Longacre was nominated for the chief engraver position for the U.S. Mint. His appointment was confirmed by the United States Senate on Jan. 7, 1845

James B. Longacre later in life while serving as Chief Engraver for the U.S. Mint. (Image Credit: usacoinbook.com)

Until next time ,

Bethany Sullivan, director, The James Madison Museum of Orange County Heritage

The James Madison Museum of Orange County Heritage is located at 129 Caroline St. in the Town of Orange. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.thejamesmadisonmuseum.net.

Sources: 

"James B. Longacre: Prolific Coin Designer, a Legendary Legacy", Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez, May 20, 2020. www.pcgs.com, Accessed 8/23/2023.

"James B. Longacre, US Coin Chief Engraver and Designer", James B. Longacre - US Coin Designer and Engraver (usacoinbook.com), Accessed 8/23/2023.