Breaking James Madison’s Heart - Catherine ‘Kitty’ Floyd

Catherine ‘Kitty’ Floyd was the daughter of a signer of the Declaration of Independence and one time fiance of James Madison.

Catherine ‘Kitty’ Floyd

When Catherine Floyd was nine years old she was forced to flee her home.

Her father, William Floyd, had just signed the Declaration of Independence and when the British came to that part of Long Island the family went on the run.

Kitty, as she was known, moved to Connecticut with her mother and two siblings and were taken in by fellow Patriots.

On the Run

While on the lamb, Catherine’s mother Hannah passed away.

Floyd traveled with her brother and sister to join William in Philadelphia.

During this time she became friendly with many other American Founders who were staying in the same boarding house including Thomas Jefferson and the homeowner’s daughter Elizabeth House Trist.

Most importantly, Kitty became extremely close to James Madison.

Engaged

The shy, short, 32-year-old Madison proposed marriage to the 15-year-old Catherine and she accepted.

The two had miniature portraits done by Charles Wilson Peale (Kitty’s pictured above) that they exchanged.

About this time, the Revolutionary War ended and the Floyds were able to return to their Long Island estate after seven years away.

Madison accompanied them as far as New Jersey then returned to Philadelphia to continue his work.

Kitty and James never appear to have met again.

Another Suitor

Unfortunately for Madison, Catherine soon met William Clarkson, another suitor who was significantly closer to her in age.

Kitty broke off the engagement and married Clarkson instead.

The two seemed to live a happy life until he passed away, after which Floyd’s father wrote a will which implied that Kitty was spending poorly and did not deserve a generous inheritance.

Years later he lightened up and became a bit more gratuitous with the property he left her.

Catherine spent the last few years of her life living with a daughter in New York City.

Madison’s Memories

As for James, he famously went on to marry Dolly Payne Todd a decade later.

Though he went on to great success, he never seemed to get over the heartbreak of losing Kitty Floyd.

When a letter he wrote about their relationship came to his attention in the later years of his life he scribbled out its contents, forever leaving posterity curious as to his true feelings at the ending of his first engagement.

Want to read about more FOUNDING MOTHERS?

Great! Check out these articles:

Phillis Wheatley - From Slave Girl to Master Poet

Martha Bratton - Explosions, Death Threats and Huck’s Defeat

The Adventures of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton

Kitty’s relationship with James is mentioned in most biographies of Madison, including the one by my favorite author Richard Brookhiser.

Pick up a copy through the Amazon affiliate link below…

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