-
Thomas Jefferson is born
Thomas Jefferson was born at Shadwell plantation in western Virginia to Peter Jefferson (shown) and Jane Randolph Jefferson. -
Jefferson's first childhood memory
Jefferson remembers his first memory to be of the fifty-mile horseback ride he took with his father's slave within the Virginia forests. -
Jefferson begins boarding school
Jefferson starts school at age nine, staying there for three-quarters of the year until he's sixteen. He was extremely good at classical languages. -
Jefferson goes to college
Jefferson enrolls at the College of William and Mary (shown), taking classes in science, mathematics, rhetoric, philosophy, and literature. He also studied under Professor William Small, who was a major influence on him. -
Jefferson's law studies
Jefferson goes to study law under George Wythe, who had also taught John Marshall and Henry Clay, who were two big names in American History. He became a well-known lawyer. -
Jefferson meets Martha
Jefferson meets Martha Wayles Skelton (shown), a widow with a lot of money. They spend some time together before they eventually get married and move to Monticello, which was to be their home. -
Declaring Independence
Jefferson was asked, along with four other men, to draft the Declaration of Independence and they trusted the task of writing it to him. It was published on July Fourth, 1776. -
Governor of Virginia
Jefferson also served as the governor of Virginia for a few years, being the second one under the Constitution to have that job. -
America's minister to France
Jefferson was appointed to represent America's government in France. He was able to watch the build-up of the French Revolution during this time. -
Secretary of State
Jefferson agrees to be Washington's secretary of state, one of the members of the first presidential cabinet the US ever had. However, Alexander Hamilton was a rival throughout most of his time there. -
Thomas Jefferson, Vice President
After Washington's presidency, Jefferson ran for president and ended up losing to John Adams. However, at that time the runner-up earned the job of vice president. -
Thomas Jefferson, President
Starting in 1801, Jefferson wins the presidency. He ends up serving two terms and helps the nation's economy a little bit, as well as making the Louisiana Purchase and authorizing the Lewis and Clark expedition. -
Thomas Jefferson's death
In 1826, Jefferson becomes terminally ill. On the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson passes away. John Adams dies on the same day.
