Thomas Jefferson

JEFFERSON'S PUBLIC LIFE

Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743 in  Albemarle County, Virginia. The town at that time was called Shadwell. Jefferson attended the College of William and Mary. After he graduated, he studied law with George Wythe. He studied law from 1760- 1762.  Thomas Jefferson was a very religious man. However, he believed strongly in the separation of church and state (antidisestablishmentarianism). Jefferson states this philosophy in The Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom.

When Thomas Jefferson became involved with politics, he was considered the "silent member."  This meant that he contributed with his pen rather than speaking out loud. When Jackson was 33, he drafted the Declaration of Independence. He also created a bill that included religious freedom in the United States which was enacted in 1786. This bill was called the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom. Later in his life, he bought property from Napoleon  in 1803. This was later called "The Louisiana Purchase."  Jefferson died on July 4, 1826; the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

JEFFERSON'S PERSONAL LIFE

Thomas Jefferson was married and had six children. Unfortunately, only two of them survived into adulthood; many of them died at one or two years old. He had one baby boy that was born and died unnamed.