Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson was born on 13th April 1743 in Shadwell, Goochland County, Virginia. He was known as the “American Founding Father”, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence and the third President of the United States. After his presidency he founded the University of Virginia in 1819. He was a spokesman for democracy and the rights of the individual with worldwide influence. Jefferson was elected as the first United States Secretary of State serving under President George Washington.

Childhood

Thomas Jefferson was born to father Peter Jefferson, a planter and surveyor and mother Jane Randolph. In 1745, the family moved to Tuckahoe and stayed there for about 7 years.

Education

Thomas Jefferson began his childhood education under the direction of tutors at Tuckahoe. In 1752, Jefferson went to a local school run by a Scottish Presbyterian minister. At the age of nine, Jefferson began studying Latin, Greek, and French. From 1758 to 1760, he studied history, science and classis under Reverend James Maury in Virginia.

At 16, Jefferson entered the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg and first met the law professor George Wythe who became his influential mentor. He studied mathematics, metaphysics, philosophy and law. He graduated in 1762.

Career

From 1967 to 1773, Jefferson attended the General Court of Virginia where he studied and practiced law to start his career. In 1776, when America was on the rise of its freedom resolution, Jefferson wrote the “Declaration of Independence” that marked the history of America. In 1779, at the age of thirty-six, Jefferson was elected Governor of Virginia and was re-elected the next year too.

In 1783, US marked its victory in the Revolutionary War and peace treaty with Great Britain. Following that United States formed a Congress of the Confederation and appointed Jefferson as member from Virginia. In September 1789, Jefferson joined President Washington’s Secretary of State. On 4th March 1801, Thomas Jefferson took oath as 3rd president of the United States and continued till 1809.

At the End

On July 4, 1826, Jefferson died at the age of 83, following a long trail of deteriorating health and long illness. This was the very day that marked the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.