National Freedom of Information Day is a holiday observed annually on March 16th, which commemorates the birthday of U.S. President James Madison in 1751. James Madison is seen as an important figure in the drafting of the U.S. Constitution and as a lifelong advocate for the freedom of information in government.

James Madison once lost a bid for election to the Virginia House of Delegates when he refused to give alcohol to voters—a practice that he felt went against his Republican principles. He also served as the 4th President of the U.S. and died at his home on June 28, 1836.

The History of National Freedom of Information Day

This holiday was created by syndicated radio talk show host Jim Bohannon. It has since been observed by people all over the country.

Facts About James Madison

Below are some of the interesting facts we learned about James Madison while we were busy researching National Freedom of Information Day. Let’s dig into them before we talk about how to observe this holiday.

• James Madison stood only 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighed around 100 pounds.
• Madison was the first graduate student at Princeton.
• James Madison was initially opposed to the Bill of Rights.
• Both of Madison’s vice presidents died while in office.
• One of Madison’s slaves wrote the first White House memoir.

Observing National Freedom of Information Day

People can observe this holiday by taking the time to learn more about the Freedom of Information Act that was passed in 1967.

This act granted the public the right to access records from any federal agency, so they can know what their government is doing. People can also spread the word about this holiday by using the hashtag #NationalFreedomOfInformationDay on their social media accounts.