Thomas Jefferson
| 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.