Thomas Jefferson, born April 13, 1743, in Edge Hill, Virginia, now Shadwell, Albemarle County, Virginia, became the third President of the United States. He is, however, most known for authoring the Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for religious freedom, and as founding father the University of Virginia.

Jefferson was born into a prominent family. His father, Peter Jefferson, was a well-to-do land owner and his mother, Jane Randolph, came from one of the first families of Virginia. In 1757, his father died when Jefferson was fourteen years old and he inherited 5000 acres of land and a good many slaves. It was on this land that he built his home which became known as Monticello, designed entirely by Jefferson.

Being from a prominent, well-to-do family, Jefferson was afforded one of the finest educations of that time and was an eager and diligent student. Jefferson began studying Latin, Greek and French at the age of nine. In 1752, Jefferson began attending a local school ran by a Scottish minister, William Douglas. After his father's death, Jefferson was taught at the school of Minister James Maury from 1758-1760. The school was located twelve miles from Shadwell in the Fredericksville Parish and Jefferson boarded with Maury's family. Jefferson was sixteen when he entered the College of William and Mary and attended from 1760-1762, graduating with highest honors. He enrolled at William and Mary in the philosophy school and while there studied philosophy, mathematics, metaphysics, and perfected his French. He was also a member of the secret society Flat Hat Club. He boarded at the college in what is now known as the Sir Christopher Wren Building. After graduation, Jefferson studied law with George Wythe and was admitted to the bar in 1767.

Jefferson married on January 1, 1772, a twenty-three year old widow, Martha Wayles Skelton. Jefferson's home, Monticello, took many years to complete but a portion of it was ready for occupancy when he married and it was there he took his new wife to live. They had six children, two of whom lived to adulthood. Their children were: Martha Washington Jefferson 1772-1836; Jane Randolph Jefferson 1774-1775; an infant son 1777; Mary Jefferson 1778-1804; Lucy Elizabeth Jefferson 1780-1781; and Lucy Elizabeth Jefferson 1782-1784. Martha Jefferson died on September 6, 1782 and Jefferson never remarried. He was said to have been in love with one of his slaves, Sally Hemmings, and fathered

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