SunApr 13

Featured

US President

Thomas Jefferson

April 13, 2025

Fast Facts
Background
Career Timeline
Why We Love
Surprising Facts
FAQs

The third president of the U.S., Thomas Jefferson, was born on April 13, 1743, in Virginia. He was an author, lawyer, philosopher, inventor, architect, diplomat, archaeologist, and statesman. He was a man who made history by participating in the declaration of independence of the U.S. He had a successful political career holding various positions as Legislator and Governor of the state of Virginia, a member of Congress, Minister of France, Secretary of State, and Vice Presidential Candidate before serving as president from 1801 to 1809.

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Thomas Jefferson

Nickname:

The apostle of Democracy, The man of the people, Sage of Monticello.

Birth date:

April 13, 1743

Death date:

July 4, 1826 (age 83)

Zodiac Sign:

Aries

Net Worth:

$212 million

Background

Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743, in Shadwell, Virginia. His parents were Petter Jefferson and Jane Randolph, both owners of the Shadwell plantation and he was the third of 10 children. His zodiac sign was Aries and he professed deism. From a very young age, he was a man dedicated to his academic training, when he was only 9 years old he decided to learn Latin, Greek, and French while studying at school. Jefferson was a very literate man, he trained approximately 15 hours a day in areas of study such as history, science, and mathematics, among others. His dedication to his studies led him to be one of the most outstanding students and to graduate with high honors from the university. After completing university studies, he passed a test that allowed him to be admitted as a Virginia lawyer in 1767.

His profession as a lawyer was remarkable, he managed to have a hundred clients and the great development of his work led him to become the delegate for Virginia for the Second Continental Congress in 1755. There he managed to obtain important work by being assigned along with Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert R Livingston, and Roger Sherman to be in charge of editing a declaration of independence, which was presented by Richard Henry Lee on July 2, 1776, and on July 4 was approved. After this, Jefferson’s political career was on the rise and he eventually made it to serve as President of the U.S. between 1801 and 1809.

After finishing his presidential term, he served as the father of the University of Virginia after founding it in 1819, it had an impact since it was one of the first institutions of higher education that were not under the ecclesiastical influence, as evidenced by the design of the university, since in the center of the campus there is a library and not a church. However, dedicating his life to the political and social field did not prevent him from living a full and happy personal life. In 1772 Jefferson married Martha Wayles, a woman with whom he had six children. But although they lived a beautiful love story, it was very short because in 1782 Martha died after giving birth to her last child. Thomas decided to live a life as a widower after this, and he never remarried. Thomas died on July 4, 1826.

Career timeline

1767

The Most Important Exam

Jefferson was always an excellent student, however, the exam he took with George Wythe, the first U.S. law professor was decisive for him to obtain his degree as a lawyer.

1776

The Outstanding Author

In the company of Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman, he wrote the declaration of independence.

1790

The First Secretary of State

During George Washington's legislative period, Jefferson was his first Secretary of State.

1801

The Presidency

Upon becoming president, Jefferson made historic changes and created the U.S. Military Academy in West Point.

1825

The University’s Inauguration

Jefferson inaugurated the University of Virginia, the first in the country to provide an elective course program.

Why We Love Thomas Jefferson

He upheld morally legal means
Jefferson bought his Louisiana land instead of invading it as was the norm at the time. He chose to do the right thing even though he did not have to
He was a visionary
Jefferson did not rest and accept things as they were. He trained, participated in effecting change, and then made far-reaching changes once he became president.
The Lewis and Clark expedition
After the purchase of Louisiana, Jefferson appointed Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore the lands to the west coast. It was in doing this that even more indigenous tribes were discovered.

5 Surprising Facts

July 4th was significant in his life
Jefferson died on the fiftieth anniversary of the declaration of independence.
He learned architecture on his own
At the time there were no schools of architecture, so he decided to learn by himself.
His style left him reflected in architecture
One of his legacies lies in architecture since he created the "Jeffersonian" style.
His home is in the U.S. currency
Jefferson’s Monticello is printed on 5-peso coins.
He publicly opposed slavery
He proposed a bill in which he proposed the abolition of slavery in the newly acquired territories, but that bill fell by one vote.