Biography of President Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the 3rd President of the United States.
Served as President: 1801-1809
Vice President: Aaron Burr, George Clinton
Party: Democratic-Republican
Age at inauguration: 57
Born: April 13, 1743 in Albemarle County, Virginia
Died: July 4, 1826 in Monticello in Virginia
Married: Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson
Children: Martha and Mary
Nickname: Father of the Declaration of Independence
Growing Up
Thomas grew up in the English Colony of Virginia. His parents, Peter and Jane, were wealthy landowners.
Thomas enjoyed reading, exploring nature, and playing the violin. When he was just 11 years old his
father died. He inherited his father's large estate and began to manage it at the age of 21.
Thomas attended the college of William and Mary in Virginia. There he met his mentor, a law professor by
the name of George Wythe. He became interested in law and would later decide to become a lawyer.
Before He Became President
Before he became president, Thomas Jefferson had a number of jobs: he was a lawyer who studied and
practiced law, he was a farmer and managed his vast estate, and he was a politician who served as a
member of Virginia's legislature.
By the 1770s, the American colonies, including Jefferson's Virginia, began to feel they were being unjustly
treated by their British rulers. Thomas Jefferson became a leader in the fight for independence and
represented Virginia at the Continental Congress.
Writing the Declaration of Independence
During the Second Continental Congress, Jefferson was tasked, together with John Adams and Benjamin
Franklin, to write a Declaration of Independence. This document was to state that the colonies considered
themselves free from British rule and were willing to fight for that freedom. Jefferson was the primary
author of the document and wrote the first draft. After incorporating a few changes from the other
members of the committee, they presented it to the congress in July 1776. This document is one of the
most treasured documents in the history of the United States.
During and After the Revolutionary War
Jefferson held a number of political positions during and after the war including U.S. Minister to France,
Governor of Virginia, the first Secretary of State under George Washington, and Vice President under
John Adams.
Thomas Jefferson's Presidency
Jefferson became the third President of the United States on March 4, 1801. One of the first things he did
was try to reduce the federal budget, moving power back into the hands of the states. He also lowered
taxes, which made him popular to many people.
Some of his main accomplishments as president include:
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The Louisiana Purchase - He bought a large section of land to the west of the original 13 colonies
from Napoleon of France. Although much of this land was unsettled, it was so large it nearly
doubled the size of the United States. He also made a really good deal buying all this land for only
15 million dollars.
Lewis and Clark Expedition - Once he had bought the Louisiana Purchase, Jefferson needed to
map the area and find out what was west of the country's land. He appointed Lewis and Clark to
explore the western territory and report back on what was there.
Battling Pirates - He sent American Navy ships to battle pirate ships on the coast of North Africa.
These pirates had been attacking American merchant vessels, and Jefferson was determined to
put a stop to it. This caused a minor war called the First Barbary War.
Jefferson also served a second term as president. During his second term he mostly worked to keep the
United State out of the Napoleonic Wars in Europe.
Monticello
Monticello was the primary plantation of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, who,
after inheriting quite a large amount of land from his father, designed and started building Monticello when
he was 26 years old. Located just outside Charlottesville, Virginia, the plantation was originally 5,000
acres, and was used for extensive cultivation of tobacco and mixed crops, with labor by slaves. Like other
planters, Jefferson shifted from tobacco cultivation to a wheat plantation to respond to changing markets.
How did he die?
Jefferson became sick in 1825. His health grew worse, and he finally passed away on July 4, 1826. It is
an amazing fact that he died on the same day as his fellow founding father John Adams. Even more
amazing is that they both died on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.