The “Father of the Constitution,” Madison was the son of a leading Virginia landowner. His 5,000-acre Montpelier estate and plantation yielded rich tobacco profits and was the largest estate in Orange County , Va. Educated at theCollege of New Jersey (now

One of the few presidents considered a truly self-made man, Johnson was born into humble origins in south-central Texas . At one time a schoolteacher to make ends meet, Johnson began accumulating wealth as a congressman.One of his more significant assets

Best known for presiding over the stock market crash of 1929, Hoover came to office with credentials as a successful self-made man. The son of a blacksmith and a seamstress, Hoover studied engineering at Stanford University .After graduation he made a for

Tyler was the first man to gain the presidency because of the death of a sitting president and his example set the precedent that has governed ever since. He moved into the White Houseimmediately, had the oath of office administered to him, and took the r