by Betty Carew

Created on: February 02, 2009

Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13th, 1743 in Shadwell, which is now known as Albemarle County, Virginia. Jefferson led a very full life with the foresight of very few in his times. He was the third President of the United States and had much more in his list of accomplishments, although this was his greatest achievement. He served as Governor of Virginia, US Minister to France, Secretary of State under George Washington, Vice President of the United States, under John Adams. He was the author of the Declaration of American Independence of the State of Virginia for freedom of religion and he was father of the University of Virginia.

Jefferson was born to a prominent family, his mother Jane Randolph Jefferson came from one of the first families of Virginia. His father Peter Jefferson wasn't lacking either, he was a wealthy landowner. This did not seem to matter much to Thomas.

The Early Years,

Jefferson attended the William and Mary College between 1760 and 1762. After leaving college he studied law with George Wythe. In 1769 he started what would lead to six years of service as a representative in Virginia's House of Burgesses. In 1770 he started the construction of Monticello, on the land that he had inherited from his father. This mansion took two years to finish; every detail was designed by him. Only part of the Mansion was ready when Thomas decided to marry Martha Wayles Skelton. The wedding took place on January 1st, 1772. Thomas had Martha had six children, with only two of them surviving to adulthood.

A Famous Man,

It would be in 1774 that Jefferson's reputation would reach further than Virginia. This was partly due to a political pamphlet that he had written which was called "A Summary View of the Rights of British America". This pamphlet was based on the natural rights theory.

The Declaration of Independence,

On June 11th, 1776 Thomas Jefferson was appointed to get together a committee of five, to prepare for the Declaration of Independence. The initial draft that was submitted was amended by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams and was altered stylistically and substantively by Congress but Thomas Jefferson was the author of the Declaration of Independence. Thomas had written a reference to the voluntary allegiance to the colonists in the original declaration but that was omitted. There was also another clause that was omitted and that referred to the monarchy, for imposing slavery upon America. The pamphlet of A Summary View had a striking resemblance

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