Thomas Jefferson
(1743-1826)
Thomas Jefferson was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, philosopher, and Founding Father who served as the third president of the United States from 1801 to 1809. He was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence. Following the American Revolutionary War and prior to becoming president in 1801, Jefferson was the nation's first U.S. secretary of state under George Washington and then the nation's second vice president under John Adams.
BORN:
Albemarle County, Virginia
Apr 13, 1743
Jefferson began his education together with the Randolph children at Tuckahoe under tutors. He was taught from 1758 to 1760 by the Reverend James Maury near Gordonsville, Virginia, where he studied history, science, and the classics while boarding with Maury's family. Jefferson entered the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, in 1761, at the age of sixteen, and studied mathematics, metaphysics, and philosophy with William Small. Under Small's tutelage, Jefferson encountered the ideas of the British Empiricists, including John Locke, Francis Bacon, and Isaac Newton. Small introduced Jefferson to George Wytheand Francis Fauquier.
During the American Revolution, Jefferson represented Virginia at the Second Continental Congress and served as the second governor of Virginia from 1779 to 1781. In 1785, Congress appointed Jefferson U.S. minister to France, where he served from 1785 to 1789. President Washington then appointed Jefferson the nation's first secretary of state, where he served from 1790 to 1793.
During this time, in the early 1790s, Jefferson and James Madison organized the Democratic-Republican Party to oppose the Federalist Party during the formation of the nation's First Party System. Jefferson and Federalist John Adams became both friends and political rivals. In the 1796 U.S. presidential election between the two, Jefferson came in second, which made him Adams' vice president. Four years later, in the 1800 presidential election, Jefferson again challenged Adams, and won the presidency. In 1804, Jefferson was reelected overwhelmingly to a second term.
DIED:
Albemarle County, Virginia
Jul 4, 1826
Thomas Jefferson
was here...
Places | Image | Address | GPS | Site |
---|---|---|---|---|
Independence National Historical Park | 520 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106 | MUSEUM | ||
George Washington's Mount Vernon | 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy, Mt Vernon, VA 22121 | MUSEUM | ||
Colonial Williamsburg | 101 Visitor Center Dr, Williamsburg, VA 23185 | MUSEUM | ||
Valley Forge National Historic Park | 1400 N Outer Line Dr, King of Prussia, PA 19406 | MUSEUM | ||
Thomas Jefferson's Monticello | 1050 Monticello Loop, Charlottesville, VA 22902 | MUSEUM | ||
Federal Hall | 26 Wall St, New York, NY 10005 | MUSEUM | ||
James Madison's Montpilier | 11350 Constitution Hwy, Montpelier Station, VA 22957 | MUSEUM | ||
Declaration House | 1008 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19106 | MUSEUM | ||
William & Mary Wren Building | Wren Bldg, 111 Jamestown Rd, Williamsburg, VA 23185 | MUSEUM | ||
St John's Church | 2401 E Broad St, Richmond, VA 23223 | CHURCH | ||
Gadsby's Tavern & Museum | 134 N Royal St, Alexandria, VA 22314 | MUSEUM | ||
James Monroe's Highland | 2050 James Monroe Pkwy, Charlottesville, VA 22902 | MUSEUM | ||
Bruton Parish Church | 201 W Duke of Gloucester St, Williamsburg, VA 23185 | MUSEUM | ||
Raleigh Tavern | E Duke of Gloucester St, Williamsburg, VA 23185 | MUSEUM | ||
Charlton's Coffeehouse | E Duke of Gloucester St, Williamsburg, VA 23185 | MUSEUM | ||
Virginia Capitol Building | E Duke of Gloucester St, Williamsburg, VA 23185 | MUSEUM | ||
Piney Grove and Southalls | 16920 Southall Plantation Ln, Charles City, VA 23030 | MARKER | ||
Chesterfield County Courthouse | 10011 Iron Bridge Rd, Chesterfield, VA 23832 | MARKER | ||
Gordon Inn Marker | 109 E Gordon Ave, Gordonsville, VA 22942 | MARKER | ||
Shadwell - Birthplace of Thomas Jefferson | 2449 Richmond Rd, Charlottesville, VA 22911 | MARKER | ||
Burr's Tavern Marker | 521 Main St, Warren, RI 02885 | MARKER | ||
Eppington Marker | 17401 River Rd, Chesterfield, VA 23838 | MARKER | ||
St John's Church Marker | 2401 E Broad St, Richmond, VA 23223 | MARKER | ||
Poplar Forrest | 1776 Poplar Frst Pkwy, Lynchburg, VA 24502 | MARKER | ||
Carters Grove | 8797 Pocahontas Trail, Williamsburg, VA | MARKER | ||
Mountain Road Marker | 3024 Mountain Rd, Glen Allen, VA 23060 | MARKER | ||
Scene of Jefferson's Wedding Marker | 8411 Roxbury Rd, Charles City, VA 23030 | MARKER |