Thomas Jefferson Biography

Thomas Jefferson Biography

Thomas Jefferson , the third President of the United States . He was also the second Vice President . Jefferson wrote the declaration of Independence , founded what came to be the Democratic Party , and established the University of Virginia . He played a major part in shaping the theory and practice of the government of the nation . As President , Jefferson was a strong and generally effective leader . During his two terms , he more than doubled the size of the country , through the Louisiana Purchase , and kept the nation from involvement in the

Napoleonic Wars despite both British and French Violations of America 's neutrality . Thomas Jefferson was born April 13 , 1743 , at Shadwell , a plantation in Goochland County , Virginia . The first Jefferson was believed to have come to Virginia from Wales . Peter Jefferson , father of Thomas , was a surveyor who became a landowner and magistrate . In 1739 he married Jane Randolph , a member of one of the most aristocratic and influential families of the colony . They had 10 children . Thomas was the elder of the two sons among the eight surviving children . After his father 's death in 1757 he inherited 2 , 650 acres of land , several slaves , and a position of consequence in the community

At five , Thomas was sent to a private school near Richmond . He later studied under private tutors and in 1760 entered the College of William and Mary . There he developed zeal for higher mathematics and the natural sciences and impressed many with his brilliant mind . He also became an accomplished violinist and horseman . T o his friends , the tall , slender sandy- haired Jefferson was Long Tom

Dr . William Small , who taught philosophy and mathematics , took a liking to young Jefferson . As a result of the recommendation by Dr . Small Jefferson , after leaving

school in 1762 , was able to study law under the guidance of George Wythe , a leading attorney and noted teacher . Jefferson was admitted to the bar in 1767 and soon developed a profitable practice

Jefferson married Martha Wayles Skelton , a well- to- do young widow , in 1772 and had six children but only two survived . In 1775 , he was selected as alternate delegate to Second Continental Congress . In 1776 Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence and was again elected to House of Burgesses . He was elected governor of Virginia reelected in 1780 and served until 1781 was also elected to the Congress in 1783 . He was appointed as a minister of France in 1785 then in 1790 , became the Secretary of State in Washington 's cabinet and resigned in 1793 . Then finally became the Second Vice President of the United States and the Third President of the United States in 1801 and was reelected in this position in 1804 . He retires to Monticello , his Virginia home in 1809 . He then refused to run for a third term Jefferson went back to Virginia . He was almost penniless , and the estate was in a run- down condition . Poverty compelled him to sell his fine...