Thomas Jefferson

Date of Birth: April 13, 1743

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Date of Death: July 4, 1826

Biography

Thomas Jefferson was the third President of the United States, serving from 1801 to 1809. A Founding Father, he was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence and a proponent of democracy, republicanism, and individual rights. Jefferson was born into a prominent planter family in Virginia and was well-educated, studying at the College of William & Mary. He embarked on a career as a lawyer and politician, serving as a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses and later as the Governor of Virginia. Jefferson also served as the U.S. Minister to France and the first U.S. Secretary of State under President George Washington. His presidency was marked by significant events such as the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Jefferson was also a renowned architect, inventor, and philosopher, contributing significantly to American political thought.

5 Interesting Facts about Thomas Jefferson

1. Thomas Jefferson founded the University of Virginia in 1819.

2. He designed his own home, Monticello, in Charlottesville, Virginia.

3. Jefferson was an accomplished violinist and had a profound love for music.

4. He sold his extensive personal library to the government, which became the foundation of the Library of Congress.

5. Jefferson was a polymath, with interests ranging from agriculture to linguistics and paleontology.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Thomas Jefferson

1. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”

2. “I cannot live without books.”

3. “Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.”

4. “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”

5. “I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Thomas Jefferson’s highest net worth was estimated to be around $212 million in today’s dollars, largely due to his extensive landholdings.

Children

Thomas Jefferson had six children with his wife Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson, but only two survived to adulthood: 1. Martha Jefferson Randolph 2. Mary Jefferson Eppes There is also historical evidence suggesting that Jefferson fathered several children with Sally Hemings, one of his enslaved women.