Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence and the third President of the United States, born in Albemarle County, Virginia.
- Profession
- President, Statesman, Architect
- From
- Shadwell, Virginia
- Born
- April 13, 1743
- Years active
- 1769–1826
Early life
Born at Shadwell in Albemarle County in 1743, Jefferson studied law at the College of William & Mary and entered the Virginia House of Burgesses.
Career
He drafted the Declaration of Independence in 1776, served as governor of Virginia, minister to France, secretary of state and vice president before winning the presidency in 1800, during which he doubled the nation's size through the Louisiana Purchase.
Major achievements
He founded the University of Virginia, championed religious freedom, and left a vast legacy as a writer, architect and Enlightenment thinker.
Legacy
Jefferson is enshrined among the Founding Fathers, his estate Monticello and his university both UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
References
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