Jean Pierre Sioussat (September 22, 1781 – April 2, 1864) was a Paris-born[1] American who was the first Master of Ceremonies during the presidency of James Madison.[2] Dolley Madison was known to manage the weekly state dinners that the President hosted,[3] and as her duties expanded, Dolley hired Sioussat. He had prior worked for the British Minister and "his knowledge of French customs made him particularly valuable at official functions."[4]
During the Burning of Washington during the War of 1812, Sioussat assisted Dolley Madison, the White House doorman John Suse' and Paul Jennings in saving the George Washington portrait and evacuating the White House.[5]
References edit
- ^ "Jean Pierre Sioussat, c. 1815". The White House Historical Associatijno. Archived from the original on 15 April 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
- ^ McCormick, John H. (1904). "The First Master of Ceremonies of the White House". Records of the Columbia Historical Society, Washington, D.C. 7: 170–194. JSTOR 40066848.
- ^ Broadwater, Jeff (2012). James Madison: A Son of Virginia & a Founder of the Nation. The U of North Carolina P. p. 150. ISBN 978-1470833084.
- ^ Mayo, Edith P. (October 1, 2000). "Party politics: the political impact of the first ladies' social role". The Social Science Journal. 37 (4): 579. doi:10.1016/S0362-3319(00)00097-5. S2CID 145653825.
- ^ Snow, Peter (2013). When Britain Burned the White House: The 1814 Invasion of Washington. Macmillan. pp. 107–8. ISBN 9781466848948.
External links edit
- John “French John” Sioussa, Sr, White House Master of Ceremonies, U.S. President James Madison Doorkeeper at Find a Grave
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