More Presidential sheep!

I have written before that George Washington raised sheep on his Mt. Vernon estate as did Thomas Jefferson at Monticello. Jefferson kept two sheep at the White House.  Unfortunately one of the sheep killed the other, attacked a man and killed a young boy crossing the unfenced lawn in front of the White House.  Jefferson removed the sheep back to his estate and not until the ram killed other highly prized sheep, did Jefferson have it killed.  Now that is a little different information about Jefferson and sheep on the White House lawn that I posted earlier because that is what happens with research – new information is being discovered when you research something else.

What I have just learned is that both men were inaugurated in suits made of American wool! James Madison, the fourth president of the United States went one step further. Not only was he inaugurated in an American wool jacket, but it was woven from the wool of his own sheep raised at his plantation home of Montpelier.

For the last 31 years, there has been a Fall Fiber Festival and Montpelier Sheep Dog Trials at Montpelier. This year’s event will be held Oct. 5-6, 2019.  It does not appear that any descendants of Madison’s sheep are still on the grounds.