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Thomas Jefferson
Thomas
Jefferson is best known as an American
Founding Father and primary author of the
American Declaration of Independence. He was
born on April 13, 1743, in Shadwell, Colony
of Virginia. At the age of 16 he entered the
College of William & Mary in Williamsburg,
Virginia, studying metaphysics, philosophy
and mathematics. Following his graduation he
practiced law for a short time and sought
reforms to slavery. He became Virginia’s
delegate in the Second Continental Congress
and gained
John Adams’ support to gain appointment
to the Committee of Five who drafted the
Declaration of Independence. Jefferson
served as the second Governor of Virginia
from 1779 to 1781, and on May 17, 1785,
succeeded Benjamin Franklin as the United
States Minister to France. On March 22,
1790, he became the 1st United States
Secretary of State under George Washington.
Jefferson became Vice President under John
Adams on March 4, 1797, and became the 3rd
President of the United States on March 4,
1801. In 1803, Jefferson sent squadrons of
frigates to the Mediterranean, including
USS
Constitution, to protect American
merchant ships during the First Barbary War. One of his achievements as President
was to oversee the Louisiana Purchase.
Thomas Jefferson died a few hours before
John Adams on July 4, 1826. |
