Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson is a well known historical figure in America. He is probably best known as the author of the Declaration Independence, third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia. These were not his only accomplishments in life. He was a man of many interests. In recent years his legacy has encountered controversy over his position on slavery and his probable relationship with a slave. This site will briefly examine the life of Thomas Jefferson including some of its lesser known aspects.

Early Life/Education

Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743 at his family farm known as Shadwell. The farm was located in Goochland County, Virginia which is now known as Albemarle County. The April 13 date is correct by today's calendar, but by the calendar in use at the time of his birth the date was April 2. He was the third child of Peter and Jane (Randolph) Jefferson. Jefferson's education began with a tutor, and then at the age of nine he went to live with a Scottish clergyman to learn Latin, Greek and French. At the age of fourteen his father died. Being the oldest son, Jefferson became the head of the family. His inheritance included over one thousand five hundred acres of land and at least twenty slaves. After the death of his father Jefferson's education continued under James Maury who was an Anglican clergyman is the Charlottesville area. At the age of sixteen he began studying at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg. Upon completion of college Jefferson began studying law with George Wythe. He was admitted to the bar in 1767.

Public Life

Jefferson practiced law until he became involved in public service. He was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1769. He served in this position until 1775. In the spring of 1775 Jefferson attended the Second Virginia Convention. There he was chosen to represent Virginia at the Second Continental Congress. Jefferson became a leader in the Continental Congress and was appointed to a committee to draft a declaration of independence. Jefferson was credited with writing the Declaration of Independence. In September 1776 Jefferson resigned from the Congress and returned to Virginia where he had been reelected to the House of Delegates. After serving in the House of Delegates, Jefferson was elected governor by the Virginia Assembly for one year terms in 1779 and 1780. Jefferson's public service then moved to the national level. He was elected to Congress in 1783. While serving in Congress he introduced a currency system, was instrumental in the passage of the Treaty of Paris and worked on the Ordinance of 1784 and the Land Ordinance of 1785. In 1784 Congress appointed Jefferson minister to France. Jefferson left France in October 1789 expecting to return after settling his affairs in America. However, a letter from President George Washington awaited him that requested he take the position of Secretary of State. Jefferson reluctantly accepted. He held the position until 1793. In 1796 the Democratic-Republicans nominated Jefferson as a candidate for President. He received the second highest number of electoral votes making him the Vice President. In 1800 his party again nominated him as a presidential candidate. This time he would be elected President. Jefferson would be reelected in 1804. During the Jefferson administration the Louisiana Territory was purchased from France, the Lewis and Clark expedition began, the twelfth amendment to the Constitution was ratified and the act prohibiting the importation of slaves from Africa became law. Jefferson followed the example of George Washington and left the Presidency after two terms.

Private Life

While the major aspects of Jefferson's public life are well publicized, there are many interesting events and tragic occurrences of his life that are not as known. Jefferson did not like public office. He preferred a private lifestyle. Jefferson married Martha Wayles Skelton in 1772. The couple resided at Monticello which was designed by Jefferson. It was still under construction when the couple moved in. They would have six children, a son and five daughters. Of these six children only two daughters would survive to adulthood. Martha Jefferson died in 1782 leaving her husband to raise their daughters. Jefferson never remarried. Throughout his life Jefferson enjoyed music, agriculture, architecture, books, the study of religion and education. He experimented with crops and farming techniques. Jefferson founded the University of Virginia and designed many of its buildings. He also organized the curriculum, hired faculty and selected books for the library. Jefferson's interest in books would lead him to amass a personal collection of more than six thousand volumes. In 1815 Jefferson sold his collection to Congress to replace books that had been destroyed when the British burned the Capitol during the War of 1812. Throughout his retirement from public life, Jefferson continued to correspond with and entertain his friends in the style to which they were accustomed. But in truth, Jefferson had little money. Jefferson died July 4, 1826. He was buried at Monticello beside his wife. Jefferson authored the inscription that appears on his grave stone: "Here was buried Thomas Jefferson, Author of the Declaration of American Independence, of the Statute of Virginia for religious freedom, & Father of the University of Virginia"(Cunningham 87).

Historical Controversy

Jefferson's legacy is not without controversy. While Jefferson supported legislation to restrict slavery, he owned slaves throughout his life. Historians have questioned whether Jefferson had an affair with a slave named Sally Hemings. In 1998 a DNA study was conducted with DNA from male descendants of Sally Hemings and male descendants of Jefferson's uncle. The study concluded that Jefferson or one of his relatives fathered at least one of Sally Hemings children-a son Eston Hemings. In 2000 the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation reported that it is very likely that Jefferson and Hemings had a long term relationship with Jefferson fathering at least one if not all of Hemings's children (Cunningham 78).

Sources Cited

Cunningham, Noble E.,Jr., "Jefferson, Thomas," in World Book Encyclopedia, 2004 ed., 76-87.

Merriam-Webster's Biographical Dictionary, (Springfield, Massachusetts: Merriam-Webster Incorporated, 1995), 542.

Virginia Biographical Dictionary, (New York: Somerset, 1993), 119-129.

This site was created to fulfill requirements for IS490 Information Environment in the Fall 2004 semester. It was created November 27, 2004 by Lisa H. Johnson.