Biography

Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743, in Albemarle County, Virginia. His father, Peter Jefferson, was a planter and surveyor, and his mother, Jane Randolph, gave Jefferson his high social standing. Jefferson's father died in 1957, leaving an inheritence of about 5,000 acres of land and dozens of slaves. He built his home there, which eventually became known as Monticello.

In 1760, Jefferson entered the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg at the age of 16; he studied there for two years, graduating with highest honors in 1762. In 1772, Jefferson married a 23-year-old widow, Martha Wayles Skelton. They had six children: Martha Jefferson Randolph, Jane Randolph, a stillborn or unnamed son, Mary Wayles, Lucy Elizabeth, and Lucy Elizabeth II.

Politically, Thomas Jefferson was always involved in some governmental business. In 1776, Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence to free the original thirteen colonies from England's rule. Later that year, in September, Jefferson was elected to the New Virginia House of Delegates. Jefferson served as governor of Virginia from 1779�1781. As governor, he oversaw the transfer of the state capitol from Williamsburg to the more central location of Richmond in 1780. He continued to advocate educational reforms at the College of William and Mary, including the nation's first student-policed honor code. In 1779, William and Mary appointed George Wythe to be the first professor of law in an American University. Dissatisfied with the rate of changes he wanted to push through, he later became the founder of the University of Virginia, which was the first university at which higher education was completely separate from religious doctrine.

Jefferson served as the first Secretary of State under George Washington's presidency from 1789 to 1793. During the election of 1796, Jefferson lost to John Adams, but had enough electoral votes to become Vice President. However, when the election of 1800 came around, Jefferson gained more support from the people and became president from 1801 until 1809. On July 4th, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson died.
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