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Thomas Jefferson 1743 - 1826

Thomas Jefferson of 931 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy, in Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Virginia United States was born on April 13, 1743 in Shadwell. Thomas was baptized circa 1743. He married Martha Skelton Wayles Jefferson on January 1, 1772, and they were married until Martha's death on September 6, 1782. They had children Martha (Jefferson) Randolph, Jane Randolph Jefferson, Mary (Jefferson) Eppes, Lucy Elizabeth Jefferson, and Lucy#2 Elizabeth Jefferson. Thomas' partner was Sally Hemings, and they had children Harriet Hemings, William Beverley Hemings, Harriet Hemings, James Madison Hemings, and Eston Hemings Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson died at age 83 years old on July 4, 1826 at Monticello in Charlottesville, and was buried on July 5, 1826 in Charlottesville.

Thomas Jefferson
Name
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Monticello 931 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy, in Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Virginia 22902, United States
Last residence
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April 13, 1743
Shadwell, Albemarle County, Virginia, 22911, United States
Birth
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July 4, 1826
Monticello in Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Virginia, United States
Death
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Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson (1743 - 1826)
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Thomas Jefferson's History: 1743 - 1826

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  • Introduction

    Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743, in Shadwell, Virginia, to Peter Jefferson and Jane Randolph. His father was a successful planter and surveyor who had built a substantial estate in Virginia, and his mother was a member of a prominent Virginia family. Thomas Jefferson was the third of ten children, with six sisters and three brothers. Jefferson was a Founding Father of the United States and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence. He served as the third President of the United States from 1801 to 1809 and played a significant role in shaping the young nation's political landscape. Jefferson was a Renaissance man of his time, with a broad range of interests and accomplishments. He was an architect, inventor, writer, lawyer, and naturalist. He was a staunch supporter of individual liberty, religious freedom, and the separation of church and state. Throughout his life, Jefferson's legacy was marred by his ownership of slaves and his views on race.
  • 04/13
    1743

    Birthday

    April 13, 1743
    Birthdate
    Shadwell, Albemarle County, Virginia 22911, United States
    Birthplace
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  • Ethnicity & Family History

    Thomas Jefferson's family tree can be traced back to Wales, where his ancestors had lived before emigrating to America in the early 17th century. His father, Peter Jefferson, was a planter and surveyor who owned several plantations in Virginia, including the one where Thomas was born. Peter Jefferson's father was also named Thomas Jefferson, and he was a farmer and landowner who lived in Albemarle County, Virginia. On his mother's side, Thomas Jefferson's ancestry can be traced to English and Welsh families. His mother was Jane Randolph, a member of one of the most prominent families in Virginia, with ancestors who had held positions of power and influence in the colony since its earliest days. Jefferson's maternal grandfather, Isham Randolph, was a wealthy planter and merchant who owned large estates in Virginia. Jefferson was proud of his heritage and interested in genealogy, and he spent many years researching his family's history. He compiled a detailed family tree that traced his ancestry back several generations, and he kept extensive records of his family's history and traditions. Jefferson believed that understanding his family's roots and history was essential to understanding his own identity and the history of the United States.

  • Nationality & Locations

    Thomas Jefferson was born in Shadwell, Virginia, on April 13, 1743. He spent his childhood on the family estate, known as Monticello, in Virginia. After attending the College of William and Mary, he practiced law and became involved in politics, serving in the Virginia House of Burgesses and later in the Continental Congress. In 1776, Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence, and he served as Governor of Virginia from 1779 to 1781. He was a member of the Continental Congress from 1783 to 1784, and then served as the U.S. Minister to France from 1784 to 1789. Upon returning to the United States, Jefferson served as the first Secretary of State under President George Washington, and later as Vice President under President John Adams. In 1801, he was elected as the third President of the United States, serving two terms until 1809. After leaving the presidency, Jefferson retired to Monticello, where he spent the remainder of his life. He continued to be active in politics, serving as an informal advisor to President James Madison and supporting causes such as education and the abolition of slavery. He died on July 4, 1826, at Monticello.

  • Early Life & Education

    Thomas Jefferson was homeschooled by his father, who was a surveyor and landowner. In 1758, at the age of 16, he enrolled in the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, where he studied mathematics, metaphysics, and philosophy. After college, Jefferson studied law under the tutelage of George Wythe, a prominent lawyer and statesman. Wythe became a lifelong mentor to Jefferson, and Jefferson went on to practice law in Virginia for several years before embarking on his political career. Throughout his life, Jefferson was an avid reader and continued to educate himself on a wide variety of subjects, including history, literature, and science. He believed that education was essential to a free society and worked to establish public schools in Virginia. He is also credited with founding the University of Virginia, which was established in 1819 and is still in operation today.
  • 1743
    circa

    Baptism

    circa 1743
    Baptism date
    Unknown
    Place of worship

  • Religious Beliefs

    Thomas Jefferson was a complex figure when it comes to religion. He was raised in a family with strong religious beliefs, but he was also known for being critical of certain aspects of traditional Christianity. In his private letters, he often expressed a deep reverence for the teachings of Jesus, but he also rejected many of the supernatural elements of Christianity, such as the idea of the Holy Trinity. Jefferson was baptized as an infant in the Episcopal Church and remained affiliated with that denomination throughout his life. However, he was also a strong proponent of religious freedom and the separation of church and state. He believed that government should not be involved in religious matters, and that people should be free to worship (or not worship) as they saw fit. It is worth noting that the specific date and location of Jefferson's baptism are not readily available, as such records were not always kept in the 18th century.

  • Military Service

    He served in the Virginia militia during the American Revolution. In 1775, he was appointed to the five-member committee responsible for drafting the Declaration of Independence while serving in the Continental Congress. During the War of Independence, he was the Governor of Virginia from 1779 to 1781 and was responsible for the defense of the state. He also served as a wartime legislator in the Virginia House of Delegates, where he helped to draft the state's new constitution.

  • Professional Career

    After studying law with George Wythe, Jefferson was admitted to the Virginia bar in 1767 and began practicing law. Jefferson's political career began in the Virginia House of Burgesses in the late 1760s. He went on to serve in a number of positions at the state and national levels, including as a member of the Continental Congress, governor of Virginia, U.S. Minister to France, Secretary of State under George Washington, Vice President under John Adams, and President of the United States from 1801 to 1809. Jefferson was also a prolific writer and is perhaps best known for his role in drafting the Declaration of Independence. He also authored numerous books, essays, and letters on a wide range of topics. Jefferson was a lifelong farmer and horticulturist, and he took great pride in his extensive gardens and farm at Monticello. He also founded the University of Virginia in 1819 and served as its first rector, overseeing the construction of its campus and shaping its curriculum. He was an amateur architect and is credited with designing a number of buildings, including Monticello, his home in Virginia, and the Virginia State Capitol.

  • Personal Life & Family

    Thomas Jefferson was married to Martha Wayles Skelton, a widow, in 1772. They had six children together, but only two survived to adulthood: Martha and Mary. Martha died at a young age, while Mary lived until her father's death and helped care for him in his old age. Jefferson was known for his wide circle of friends, which included many influential politicians, writers, and thinkers of his time. He corresponded with many of them, including John Adams, James Madison, and the Marquis de Lafayette. Jefferson was also known for his relationships with enslaved individuals. He inherited enslaved people from his father and father-in-law, and at his death, he owned over 600 enslaved individuals. Some of them were related to Sally Hemings, an enslaved woman with whom Jefferson is believed to have had a long-term relationship and several children. In his personal life, Jefferson was also known for his interests and hobbies. He was an avid reader, and he designed and built his own home, Monticello, which he considered his greatest accomplishment. He also had a love of gardening and spent much of his time at Monticello experimenting with new crops and techniques.
  • 07/4
    1826

    Death

    July 4, 1826
    Death date
    He died on the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence likely due to a combination of factors, including age, illness, and exhaustion.
    Cause of death
    Monticello in Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Virginia United States
    Death location
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  • 07/5
    1826

    Gravesite & Burial

    July 5, 1826
    Funeral date
    Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Virginia 22902, United States
    Burial location

  • Obituary

    Originally published in the Richmond Enquirer on July 8, 1826: "Died, at Monticello, his seat in Albemarle, on the 4th instant, Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of American Independence, and of the Statute of Virginia for religious freedom, and father of the University of Virginia. His remains were interred on yesterday at Monticello, with those of his companion in life. A private character, his life has been before the public for more than half a century, and so intimately blended with the history of his country that the most conspicuous events of it are associated with his name."
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5 Memories, Stories & Photos about Thomas

Thomas Jefferson, 1800
Photo of Daniel Pinna Daniel Pinna
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02/13/2012
Thomas Jefferson, 1800
Thomas Jefferson was the 3rd President of the United States, serving in the presidential office from March 4th, 1801 - March 4th, 1909. Thomas Jefferson was preceded by John Adams and was succeeded by James Madison.

Thomas Jefferson was a founding father of the United States of America, and was a main author of the United States Declaration of Independence.

This portrait of Thomas Jefferson was done by Rembrandt in 1800.
Date & Place: in USA
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President Thomas Jefferson
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President Thomas Jefferson
A painting of Thomas Jefferson, U.S. President, circa 1917.
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Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President of the United States
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Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President of the United States
This is a lithograph of Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President of the United States in an elaborate frame.
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Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States
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Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States
This is a stipple engraving of Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States, done circa 1801.
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Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States
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Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States
This is a lithograph of Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States , done circa 1827.
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Thomas Jefferson's Family Tree & Friends

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Friendships

Thomas' Friends

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10 Followers & Sources
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Other Biographies

Other Thomas Jefferson Biographies

Jefferson, Thomas (Mar 4, 1801 - Jul 4, 1826) Jefferson, Thomas (circa 1896 - Sep 2, 1918) Jefferson, Thomas (circa 1920 - Apr 2, 1940) Jefferson, Thomas (circa 1912 - Feb 14, 1941) Jefferson, Thomas (circa 1920 - Nov 5, 1943) Jefferson, Thomas (circa 1923 - Jan 15, 1943) Jefferson, Thomas (circa 1895 - Aug 24, 1918) Jefferson, Thomas (circa 1880 - Dec 1, 1918) Jefferson, Thomas (circa 1896 - Mar 9, 1943) Jefferson, Thomas (circa 1922 - Jun 17, 1944)
Jefferson, Thomas (circa 1895 - Aug 9, 1916) Jefferson, Thomas (circa 1897 - Aug 22, 1915) Jefferson, Thomas (Born circa 1927) Jefferson, Thomas (Born circa 1913) Jefferson, Thomas (Born circa 1924) Jefferson, Thomas (Born circa 1916) Jefferson, Thomas (Born circa 1915) Jefferson, Thomas (Born circa 1921) Jefferson, Thomas (Born circa 1917) Jefferson, Thomas (Born circa 1921)

Other Jefferson Family Biographies

Jefferson, Lucy#2 (May 8, 1782 - Oct 13, 1784) Jefferson, Jane (Apr 3, 1774 - Sep 2, 1775) Skelton Jefferson, Martha (Oct 30, 1748 - Sep 6, 1782) Jefferson, Wesley (Oct 24, 1911 - Aug 1974) Jefferson, Mary (Nov 22, 1933 - Dec 1974) Jefferson, Fannie (May 8, 1894 - Aug 1966) Jefferson, Marguerite (Oct 15, 1909 - Aug 27, 1996) Jefferson, Hilary (Aug 10, 1900 - Oct 15, 1969) Jefferson, William (Nov 19, 1905 - Dec 1967) Jefferson, Frances (May 13, 1916 - Jan 6, 2006)
Jefferson, Phyliss (Jun 1, 1921 - Feb 25, 2009) Jefferson, Jean (Jul 19, 1926 - Sep 1974) Jefferson, David (Feb 17, 1945 - Aug 11, 2000) Jefferson, Raymond (Jul 4, 1906 - Sep 1965) Jefferson, Edith (Nov 18, 1928 - May 1986) Jefferson, Clifton (Mar 11, 1936 - Jan 12, 1992) Jefferson, Dorothy (Jul 5, 1902 - Mar 1984) Jefferson, Percy (May 25, 1905 - Apr 1978) Jefferson, Clarence (May 2, 1912 - May 1971) Jefferson, Julia (Sep 20, 1882 - Sep 1962)
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