Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson summary: Thomas Jefferson was the third president of the United States of America. Jefferson was born in Shadwell, Virginia in 1743. He was educated at the College of William and Mary, and he later practiced law while also serving as a magistrate and then a county magistrate. In addition to this, he was also a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses. In 1776, while a member in the Continental Congress, Jefferson was chosen to write the Declaration of Independence. He later returned to his home in Virginia, Monticello, followed by a term as governor between 1779 and 1781. In 1784, he returned to politics, serving as a trade commissioner in France. President George Washington named Jefferson as his secretary of state in 1790. Jefferson made an unsuccessful bid for president in 1796 as the Democratic party’s candidate; he became vice president after losing the election to John Adams.

He beat John Adams in the election of 1800, becoming the third president of the United States of America. During his first term, he was responsible for setting up the purchase of the Louisiana Territory, considerably adding to the size of the country. During his second term, his attempts at remaining neutral in the disagreement between Great Britain and France failed. After his second term, Jefferson returned to Monticello, and at 76 years old, he founded the University of Virginia. Thomas Jefferson died in 1826 on the date of the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Articles Featuring Thomas Jefferson From History Net Magazines