1. THOMAS JEFFERSON “Author of the Declaration of Independence”

2. Childhood  Born: April 13, 1743 in Albermarle County, Virginia  Jefferson loved to hunt, swim, ride, play the violin, and dance minuets and reels  Five years old when he began his education under the family tutor.

3.  Jefferson was a tall, slender boy with sandy, red hair and fair skin that freckled and sunburned easily.  He was a serious student who “never” neglected his studies.  When he was 14, his dad died.

4. Family/Social Life  Father: Peter Jefferson a prosperous Virginia planter.  Mother: Jane Randolph, a member of the old and distinguished Randolph family of Virginia.  He loved to spend times with his friends but his favorite times were those that he spent with his father.  3 rd of 10 children

5.  January 1, 1772 Jefferson married Martha Wayles Skelton.  They had a total of 6 children but only 2 of them lived to maturity.  Martha died in 1782.

6.  Monticello was the Jefferson Families private estate.  It was designed by Jefferson himself.

7. Professional Life  Attended William and Mary College where he studied Law.  Jefferson was a very successful lawyer but that was not what financially supported his family.  Jefferson was a lawyer, agronomist, musician, scientist, philosopher, author, architect, inventor, and statesman.

8. JEFERSON’S PRE-PRESEDENTUAL RESUME  Admitted to Virginia bar, 1767  Elected to Virginia House of Burgesses, 1769  Delegate to the Continental Congress, 1775-76  Virginia House of Delegates, 1776-79  Elected Governor of Virginia, 1779, 1780  Dispatched to England to treat for peace with Great Britain, 1782  Associate Envoy to France, 1784  Minister to the French Court, 1785  Secretary of State, 1789  Established Democratic-Republican party, 1793  Vice President of the United States, 1796

9. Presidency  Inaugurated as 3 rd president on March 4, 1801  Took office from 2 nd president John Adams.  In the “landslide” vote of 1804, Jefferson polled 162 electoral votes to his competitor Pinckney's 14 and won every state but Connecticut and Delaware.  Started second term on March 4, 1805

10. Significant Acts as President  Attempted to remove several federal judges that President John Adams appointed in the final hours of his term.  Declared war on Tripoli in 1801 over the payment of tribute to protect American ships.  Acquired the Louisiana Purchase, a vast territory west of the Mississippi, for $15 million in 1803.  Organized the Lewis and Clark Expedition, which explored the central and northwestern territories of the United States from 1803 to 1806.  Signed the Embargo Act of 1807 to protest the forcible impressment of American sailors by the French and English navies.

11. Post Presidency  Jefferson devoted much of his energy to repairing and rebuilding his estate at Monticello  Founded the University of Virginia

12. Jefferson’s Death  Jefferson died on Independence Day, July 4, 1826.  “ Here was buried: Thomas Jefferson Author of the Declaration of American Independence Of the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom And Father of the University of Virginia”

13. Jefferson Remembered

15. Sources  Komroff, Manuel. Thomas Jefferson, Julian Messner, Inc. New York. 1961.  Nock, Jay. Jefferson, Hill and Wang Publishing, New York, New York. 1926.  “Signers of the Declaration of Independence” By Thomas Kindig. http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/jeff erson.html http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/jeff erson.html  “The White House “ http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/tj3.html http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/tj3.html