Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743 in Shadwell, Virginia. His father was Peter Jefferson and his mother was Jane Randolph Jefferson. He had a brilliant command of the English language; thus he was chosen to write The Declaration of Independence. He graduated from The College of William & Mary and was John Adams’ Vice-President. He served as our nation’s 3^rd President from March 4, 1801 to March 3, 1809.

     Mr. Jefferson was a lawyer and a planter. He was the first President to be inaugurated in Washington, D.C. He was very well read and his own personal collection of books (about 6000 of them) was purchased to help start The Library of Congress. He commissioned Lewis & Clark to explore the western wilderness.

     Thomas Jefferson married Martha Wayles Skelton in 1772. They had six children. One died at birth and was never named. The others were Martha, Jane, Mary, Lucy (1780-81) and Lucy (1782-85). His wife and all of his children, except his eldest daughter, Martha, died before he did. He was an architect and an inventor. He was the other our two future Presidents who signed The Declaration of Independence. Mr. Jefferson wrote his own epitaph, never once mentioning that he had been a U.S. President.

     President Thomas Jefferson died on July 4, 1826, at Monticello, Virginia. He was 83. Unbeknownst to John Adams, Jefferson did not survive him, but had died earlier that same day.