Thomas Jefferson

By: Fatima Rosas

BirthApril 13,

1743, Shadwell, VA

ChildhoodThomas Jefferson was the third of eight children of Peter Jefferson and Jane Randolph. His father, who was of Welsh descent, was a ship’s captain and worked as a planter for some time. In 1745, his family moved to Tuckahoe and lived there for seven years before they returned to their home in Albemarle after his father was appointed to the colonelcy of the county.

FamilySpouse; Martha Jefferson

Childrens; Martha Jefferson Randolph, Mary Jefferson Eppes, Lucy Elizabeth Jefferson, Peter Jefferson, Jane Jefferson

Mother/Father; Jane Randolph Jefferson and Peter Jefferson

Grandson; Francis W. Eppes, Thomas Jefferson Randolph

Grandfather; Isham Randolph of Dungeness

Brothers/Sisters; Lucy Jefferson Lewis, Elizabeth Jefferson, Martha Jefferson Carr, Anna Scott Jefferson Marks, Mary Jefferson Bolling, Jane Jefferson, Randolph Jefferson, Peter Thomas Jefferson, Peter Field Jefferson

Great-Grandfather; William Randolph

EducationDuring 1758 to 1760 Jefferson taught at the school of the erudite minister James Maury, whereupon he received a classical education and studied science and history. He enrolled at The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg in 1760, where he studied mathematics, metaphysics, and philosophy graduating with supreme honors in 1762. As a keen student, Jefferson took interest in learning different languages and throughout his students life he studied for fifteen hours a day. A gourmet and an avid lover of wine, Thomas learned to play violin and took a keen interest in arts. After graduating, he studied law with George Wythe and began practicing law in Virginia Bar in 1767. Between the year 1768 and 1773, he handled a number of cases and established himself as a reputed lawyer.

Role in the American

RevolutionThomas Jefferson (1743-1826) is considered one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America for the central role he played in drafting the Declaration of Independence. During the American Revolution, Jefferson was elected governor of Virginia and, after the war, he was appointed minister to France. He also served as the nation's first secretary of state, its second vice president, and its third president.

Jefferson helped to found the Virginia Committee of Correspondence in 1773. He went on to make one of the most eloquent arguments against Parliament's authority over the colonies, asserting that the colonists were only united with England through their voluntary allegiance to the king. Jefferson was a delegate to the Second Continental Congress from 1775 to 1776, when he drafted the Declaration of Independence.

Quote/What

that’s it means?

“I predict future happiness for Americans, if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.”-Thomas Jefferson

The significant of this quote of how Britain’s Parliament treated the America colonists during the Revolutionary Era.

DeathJuly 4, 1826, Charlottesville,

VA

After being president, Jefferson retired to

Monticello. He sold his book collection to be the base of the Library of Congress. At 76 years old, he played a

major role in the founding of Virginia University. He died

of unknown causes on July 4, 1826, just hours before his

friend, John Adams. Since he was 83 years old, it is

assumed he died of natural causes.

More facts about Thomas JeffersonDiplomat, Government Official, U.S. Vice President, U.S. Governor, U.S. President (1743–1826)

Thomas Jefferson was a draftsman of the Declaration of Independence and the third U.S. president (1801-09). He was also responsible for the Louisiana Purchase.

Jefferson was sent to the Second Continental Congress as a representative of Virginia. He was one of the five-man committee chosen to write the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson was selected to write the first draft. His draft was mostly accepted and was later ratified on July 4, 1776.

Jefferson married Martha Wayles Skelton when he was twenty-nine. Her holdings doubled Jefferson's wealth. Only two of his children lived to maturity. His wife died ten years after being married before Jefferson became the president. While president, his two daughters along with James Madison's wife Dolley served as the unofficial hostesses for the White House.