| Thomas Jefferson | |
|---|---|
| File:Thomas Jefferson Presidential Portrait.jpg | |
| Order | 3rd President of the United States |
| In office | March 4, 1801 – March 4, 1809 |
| Vice President | Aaron Burr (1801–1805) George Clinton (1805–1809) |
| Preceded by | John Adams |
| Succeeded by | James Madison |
| Born | April 13, 1743 Shadwell, Colony of Virginia, British America |
| Political Party | Democratic-Republican |
| Spouse | Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson (m. 1772–1782) |
| Children | Martha, Mary (and likely others with Sally Hemings) |
| Profession | Lawyer, planter, architect, philosopher, statesman |
| Alma mater | College of William & Mary |
| Signature | 
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Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826) was the **3rd president of the United States** (1801–1809), principal author of the **Declaration of Independence**, the nation’s first **Secretary of State**, and founder of the **University of Virginia**. A leading voice of the Enlightenment in America, he championed republican self-government, religious liberty, and expansion of opportunity—ideas that profoundly shaped the early Republic.
Early Life and Education
Born at Shadwell in colonial Virginia, Jefferson studied at the **College of William & Mary**, read law, and entered the House of Burgesses. A gifted writer and polymath, he pursued architecture, science, and agriculture alongside public service.
Revolutionary Leadership and Diplomacy
In 1776, Jefferson drafted the **Declaration of Independence**. He later served as **Governor of Virginia**, **minister to France**, and **Secretary of State** under **George Washington**, where he debated the scope of federal power with **Alexander Hamilton**. He was **vice president** under **John Adams** (1797–1801).
Presidency (1801–1809)
Jefferson’s presidency emphasized limited government and civil liberties while advancing national growth:
- **Louisiana Purchase (1803):** Doubled U.S. territory by acquiring vast lands from France.
- **Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806):** Commissioned exploration of the West to chart geography, resources, and Native nations.
- **Judicial and civil liberties:** Battled Federalist judicial power (e.g., impeachment of Judge Pickering and Justice Chase—Chase was acquitted).
- **Embargo Act (1807):** Halted foreign trade to pressure Britain and France; it hurt the U.S. economy and proved deeply unpopular.
Slavery and Contradictions
Jefferson wrote that all men are created equal yet enslaved hundreds at Monticello. Evidence indicates he **likely fathered children with Sally Hemings**, an enslaved woman there. His legacy is therefore both foundational and deeply contested.
Later Years
Retiring to **Monticello**, Jefferson designed and founded the **University of Virginia** (1819). He died on **July 4, 1826**, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration—on the same day as **John Adams**.
Legacy
Jefferson helped define American ideals of liberty, education, and republican governance, even as his life reflected the contradictions of slavery in a nation dedicated to freedom. His words and institutions remain central to U.S. civic identity.