Thomas Jefferson’s Biography

1) First of all, Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743 in Albemarle County, Virginia. Jefferson had the function of Statesman. Despite being a Statesman, he was a lawyer, philosopher, political writer, architect, archaeologist and paleontologist. 2) Also, Jefferson was a poor public speaker, generous, kind, hospitable, brilliant and sympathetic. He also had an emotional temperament and he was private. 3) Thomas Jefferson inherited from his father, a planter and inspector, some 5,000 acres of land and from his mother, a high social reputation. His father’s name was Peter Jefferson and his mother’s name was Jane Randolph. Thomas Jefferson was the third of ten children. His older sister helped him to learn to read. 4) In addition, he was the most extraordinary collector of talent and of human knowledge. Also, he studied Latin in Dover, Virginia; he studied Greek, History Literature, Geography and Natural Science. 5)  Thomas Jefferson studied at The College of William and Mary; he studied there from 1760 to 1762. 6) Each day Jefferson dedicated 15 hours, just to study. An important point to mention of Jefferson’s life is that William Small introduced Jefferson to the writing of the British empiricists.

            7) Furthermore, Thomas Jefferson built his own house on 5,000 acres of land, near Charlottesville, Virginia. He called it Monticello, which means little mountain. For Jefferson, his house was a place to meditate, find peace and spend time with his family. 8) Thomas Jefferson was a founding member of the Virginia Committee of Correspondence. Also, he made a summary view of the rights of British Americans. After he was voted into Virginia’s House of Burgesses in 1769; he had two issues. One of them was the Legislation of Slavery. 9) Additionally, Martha Wayles Skelton married Jefferson in 1772. The first fifteen months were the happiest days of their marriage and ten months after they got married. 10) Soon, his father-in-law died and he inherited from him 135 slaves. Therefore, he met Sally Hemings. 11) One of the most important phases of Jefferson’s life was that he wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence. According to Jefferson, one of the reasons why he wanted independence from England was because all human beings have the right to be independent and equal. Also, those rights come from Nature’s God. 12) Moreover, in June 1775 Jefferson worked with John Adams who was a good friend and Benjamin Franklin at the Second Continental Congress. 13) In 1776, Jefferson was appointed to the Committee that would draft the Declaration of Independence. Additionally, Jefferson and John Adams were asked to author the document. Also, Adams and Jefferson had a lot of differences. In contrast, Jefferson was passive and conservative and Adams was frank and direct. 14)  The famous first line of the Declaration of Independence was, “All man are Created equal,” written by Thomas Jefferson.

            15) The war of Independence lasted 8 years (1775-1783.) 16) The toughest battle of Jefferson’s life was the separation of church from State in Virginia. 17) Later, his wife died and Jefferson was devastated and felt distressed by the death. Jefferson also promised his wife that he would never marry again. 18) He carefully planned the education and training of his daughters, Martha Maria and Lucy. Soon, after his wife’s death he spent 5 years in France. 19) Additionally, when he returned to the States; he was secretary of State because George Washington gave him that position. 20) Also, he was Vice President during John Adam’s presidency. 21) Then, in 1801 he was inaugurated the third president of the United States. 22) Likewise, Jefferson was founder of the University of Virginia. 23) Thomas Jefferson believed that critical to a democracy’s survival was that the government has to protect our rights and the people had to be educated as well.   24) A big issue that Jefferson and John Adams had was that they were political enemies. Therefore, they decided not to speak to each other for 12 years. Finally, on July 4, 1826 Thomas Jefferson died, just like John Adams. 25) On Jefferson’s tombstone it says: “Here was buried Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence of the State of Virginia for religious, freedom and father of the University of Virginia.”