Thomas Jefferson, a spokesman for democracy, was an American Founding Father, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776), and the third President of the United States (1801–1809).
Table of Contents
Biography
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Thomas Jefferson |
| Date of Birth | April 13, 1743 |
| Age at Death | 83 (died July 4, 1826) |
| Place of Birth | Principal author of the Declaration of Independence- Governor of Virginia (1779–1781)- Secretary of State (1790–1793)- Vice President (1797–1801)- President of the U.S. (1801–1809) |
| Net Worth | Substantial wealth during his lifetime but deeply in debt at his death |
| Profession | Politician, Lawyer, Architect, Philosopher, Founding Father |
| Principal author of the Declaration of Independence – Governor of Virginia (1779–1781)- Secretary of State (1790–1793)- Vice President (1797–1801)- President of the U.S. (1801–1809) | Principal author of the Declaration of Independence Governor of Virginia (1779–1781)- Secretary of State (1790–1793)- Vice President (1797–1801)- President of the U.S. (1801–1809) |
| Education | Principal author of the Declaration of Independence Governor of Virginia (1779–1781), Secretary of State (1790–1793)- Vice President (1797–1801)- President of the U.S. (1801–1809) |
| Principal author of the Declaration of Independence Governor of Virginia (1779–1781), Secretary of State (1790–1793), Vice President (1797–1801), President of the U.S. (1801–1809) | – Principal author of the Declaration of Independence- Governor of Virginia (1779–1781)- Secretary of State (1790–1793)- Vice President (1797–1801)- President of the U.S. (1801–1809) |
| Height | 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm) |
| Personal Life | Married Martha Wayles Skelton (1772–1782); 6 children (2 survived to adulthood) |
| Notable Achievements | Louisiana Purchase (1803), founding the University of Virginia, commissioning the Lewis and Clark Expedition |
| Death | July 4, 1826, at Monticello, Virginia |
Education
Jefferson commenced his early education at the age of nine, studying Latin, Greek, and French; in 1760, he enrolled in the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, where he spent two years studying mathematics, philosophy, and law until his graduation in 1762. Subsequently reading law with Wythe and then practicing law with him became a lifelong interest for Jefferson.
Political Career:
Jefferson’s political career began in 1769 with his election to the Virginia House of Burgesses and continued through his terms as First U.S. Secretary of State (1789-1793), Second Vice President (1797-1801), and Third President of the United States (1801-1809).
Net Worth
Jefferson inherited a great deal of property and wealth, including large tracts of land and dozens of enslaved people, from his father upon his death. Jefferson built on that wealth during his lifetime, but he also had financial troubles brought on by living beyond his means, using high-interest loans to pay the bills on Monticello and occasionally other debts, and poor investment decisions. When he died in 1826 at the age of 83, Jefferson’s estate was heavily encumbered with debt, so much so that everything except some family furniture at Monticello had to be sold to cover it.
Personal Life:
In 1772, he married widow Martha Wayles Skelton, and they had six children: two died in infancy; their daughter Lucy died aged 1 or 2; and another daughter and two sons outlived their father. Martha Jefferson died in 1782, five years after the couple’s retirement to Monticello. Jefferson never remarried but is known to have had a long-standing relationship with Sally Hemings, one of his slaves who was also half-sister to his deceased wife—and it is widely believed that Hemings bore six of Jefferson’s children.
Height
- Thomas Jefferson was 6 feet 2 inches tall (188 cm), unusually tall for a man of his period.
- Jefferson died on July 4, 1826, at age 83, the same day that his friend John Adams died.
FAQs
What were Thomas Jefferson’s most important accomplishments as president?
As president, he was responsible for the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, buying from France nearly 830,000 square miles of land west of the Mississippi River for $15 million.
Did Thomas Jefferson help start any schools?
Thomas Jefferson founded the University of Virginia in 1819 and designed its buildings and curriculum. In his own words, founding the university was one of three accomplishments he most cherished.
What is Thomas Jefferson’s legacy regarding slavery?
Jefferson’s legacy on the issue of slavery is a complicated one and perhaps rightly so. Though he drafted the words All men are created equal in the Declaration of Independence.
