Thomas Jefferson Timeline

Birth

Apr 13, 1743

Thomas Jefferson was born in Shadwell, Virginia to Peter Jefferson and Jane Randolph Jefferson.

Father's Death

Aug 17, 1757

Thomas Jefferson's father died and left him the Shadwell Property and slaves.

Graduation

1762

Jefferson graduated from the College of William and Mary.

Lawyer

1767

Jefferson started working as a lawyer in Virginia.

Marriage

Jan 1, 1772

Thomas married Martha Wayles Skelton whom he had six children with.

Delegate

May 10, 1775

Jefferson becomes a delegate to the Second Continental Congress.

Declaration of Independence

Jul 4, 1776

Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence and it was approved by Congress on this date.

Governor of Virginia

1781

Thomas Jefferson serves as the Governor of Virginia from 1779-81.

Martha's Death

Sep 6, 1782

Thomas Jefferson's wife, Martha, dies weeks after giving birth to her sixth and last child.

Minister

1785

Thomas Jefferson becomes a U.S. minister to France.

Secretary of State

1789

Jefferson accepts an appointment from George Washington to become the nation's first Secretary of State.

President

1800

Thomas Jefferson becomes America's third president after beating John Adams and Aaron Burr in the election.

Louisiana Purchase

Apr 2, 1803

Jefferson purchases the 800,000 square miles Louisiana Territory from a French Emperor.

Inauguration

Mar 4, 1805

Jefferson is inugurated into his second term in office.

Second Term

Mar 4, 1809

After Jefferson's second term of presidency, he heads back to Monticello to live out the rest of his life.

Debts

1815

Struggling under his debts, Jefferson sells his collection of over 6,700 books to Congress after the White House is burnt down by the British in the war.

Death

Jul 4, 1826

Jefferson dies at the age of 83 on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, John Adams, his rival, also died on the same day.