Born: Albermarle County, Virginia
Died: July 4, 1826 Place of Birth: April 13, 1743
Major Notes:
Thomas Jefferson created one of the most important documents in US history, the Declaration of American Independence.
He came from a well-off family who controlled a large number of slaves.
In 1760-62, Jefferson attended the College of William and Mary and studied law with a well-known lawyer, George Wythe.
Jefferson, in 1769, became a delegate to the House of Burgesses in colonial Virginia.
He married Martha Wayles Skelton on Jan. 1, 1772, and began a family of six children.
Thomas Jefferson was the Governor for Virginia during the time of the War of Independence.
As the Secretary of State under George Washington, Jefferson was well aware of the events leading up to the French Revolution.
Jefferson had all kinds of talent which included skills as an architect when he designed Monticello, his plantation home.
In 1786, a bill written by Thomas Jefferson was accepted establishing the Statute of Virginia for religious freedom .
He became the American Vice-President in 1796 even though he was the opposition leader to President John Adams.
In the election of 1800, a virtual tie occurred between Jefferson and his own vice-president; Jefferson was declared President by the House of Representatives
Later he founded, designed, and built the University of Virginia that he considered his life's crowning achievement.
Thomas Jefferson was a true visionary for his time creating or helping in the creation of many laws and regulations which mark US democracy.
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