Final answer:
James Madison is widely recognized as the 'Father of the Constitution,' due to his integral role and contributions at the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention and in authoring The Federalist Papers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The principal author of the United States Constitution, often referred to as the "Father of the Constitution," is James Madison. Born in Virginia in 1751, Madison's role as a delegate at the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention and his substantial contributions to the Constitution's framework were pivotal. Notably, he structured the Virginia Plan, advocating for a population-based legislative representation, and was instrumental in the establishment and promotion of a system of checks and balances derived from Montesquieu's ideas. Madison also had a significant hand in authoring over a third of The Federalist Papers, which were instrumental essays written alongside John Jay and Alexander Hamilton to foster support for the Constitution's ratification, particularly in New York. Beyond that, although initially skeptical about the need for a Bill of Rights, Madison drafted these crucial amendments to pacify concerns about federal authority overreach.