Thomas Jefferson (born April 13, 1743 - died July 4, 1826) - the third American president (1801-1809), a prominent politician, diplomat and philosopher of the Enlightenment. Delegate to the House of Citizens (1769-1775), Deputy of the 1st and 2nd Continental Congresses (1774-1775) One of the authors of the draft of the US Declaration of Independence.
Origin. early years
The future president was born in Virginia, was the third of eight children in a family close to the most famous people in the state. His father, Peter Jefferson, of Welsh descent, was a planter and plantation surveyor in Albermeil County. His mother is Jane (née Randolph), daughter of Ishem Randolph, a fleet captain and planter, and a cousin of the first chairman of the Continental Congress, Peyton Randolph.
1745 - After the death of Colonel William Randolph, an old friend of Peter Jefferson, Peter took custody of his Taccajo estate and his young son Thomas Menn Randolph. In the same year, the Jefferson family moved to Taccajo.
1752 Jefferson began his studies at the local elementary school with the Scottish priest William Douglas and began to study Latin, Ancient Greek and French. 1757 - the father of the future president died, from whom he inherited about 5 thousand acres of land and several dozen slaves. Over time, Monticello will be built on this land.
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Political activity (briefly)
He was the head of the committee for the creation of the US Declaration of Independence. During the Revolutionary War, he was active in Virginia, then became its governor (1779-81). He was a slave owner, and advocated the gradual emancipation of blacks, but he himself admitted that he never felt capable of doing this in practice. Having replaced Benjamin Franklin as the American ambassador, he represented American interests in France (1785-89), was the first secretary of state in the Washington administration.
1794 - retired as an opponent of the economic policy of Alexander Hamilton. Subsequently, he created the Democratic-Republican Party in which he became the leader, was the vice-president of John Adams, and then the president. His presidency was marked by cuts in administrative costs, the end of tribute payments to the Berber pirates as a result of the "war with Tripolitania, the purchase of" Louisiana and the Lewis-Clark expedition; under him passed the Embargo Act, which protected America's right to remain neutral in the Napoleonic Wars.
Death
Thomas Jefferson died on July 4, 1826 in Monticello (Virginia), on the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. On the obelisk of Jefferson's grave in the cemetery in Monticello, there is an epitaph which he composed himself. It does not mention any of his government positions, but there are indications of three achievements that he valued most - the Declaration of Independence, the Statute of Religious Freedom, the University of Virginia.
Memory
Cities, rivers and mountains, colleges and universities, town squares and streets are named in his honor. The memory of Thomas Jefferson was immortalized in the memorial, which was opened in Washington on the 200th anniversary of his birth. Inside this domed, pillared, classical style, Jefferson's statue is almost 6 meters high, and his sayings adorn the walls.
Personal life
1772 Jefferson married 23-year-old widow Martha Veils Skelton, his second cousin, and she bore him six children, four of whom died at an early age. Martha Jefferson died on September 6, 1782, and after her death he never married. True, there is a possibility that Jefferson had children from his quarter-slave Sally Hemings, but this is not known for sure.
Interesting Facts
• He created a version of the New Testament called the Jefferson Bible.
• He had several of his inventions, for example, a swivel chair, a camping chair, a letter copier, a pedometer.
• The Library of Congress was created from his collection of books.
• Was the founder of the University of Virginia, compiled its first program.
• Collected wine.
• Designed his own estate, the University of Virginia rotunda, and the Virginia Capitol.