The People’s President?
While all of America’s founding fathers left behind powerful legacies, one name continues to spark admiration and controversy: Thomas Jefferson. Hailed by many as one of the country’s greatest presidents, Jefferson’s true motives remain a mystery cloaked in complexity. Was he a visionary leader, or something far more calculated? One thing’s undeniable—he didn’t just influence America’s future. He rewrote it.
1. He Was Born To Privilege
Since the years that Thomas Jefferson was around, historians have debated the part he played in the continued rise of slavery in America. While the majority of his views seem uncommonly progressive, he still owned many slaves until the day he passed. Whatever his views came to be, he was born on April 13, 1743, to parents who already owned a plantation—a source of income that would finance him throughout his career.
However, before he got to all the politics, he took time to enjoy himself.
Charles Willson Peale, Wikimedia Commons
2. He Was A Party Animal
After 18 years of education under various tutors and in several different schools, Jefferson attended the College of William & Mary in 1761. While his intelligence was evident from the get-go, he also gained quite a merry reputation, spending much of his time partying, dancing, and throwing his money away.
But as he got older, he separated himself from the crowd.
Century Company, Wikimedia Commons
3. He Went Against The Flow
Having studied law and finished his formal education by 1762, Jefferson gained admission to the Virginia bar five years later. While serving on behalf of Albemarle County for the next several years, he started building a unique reputation. He leaned progressive, much of which had to do with slavery reforms, and he fought to make it easier for slaves to receive emancipation.
To be fair, he had thought a lot about this.
Mather Brown (painting); A.B. Hall (engraving), Wikimedia Commons
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4. He Argued Natural Law
During his years as a lawyer, Jefferson strived to represent many slaves who wanted to be free. From how he conducted his arguments, they stemmed from a seemingly strong belief that each person had an innate liberty and freedom, stating in one case that "everyone comes into the world with a right to his own person”.
By this point, Jefferson’s father had perished and left him a sizeable property.
Gilbert Stuart portrait of Thomas Jefferson, Wikimedia Commons
5. He Made A Home
In 1757, Jefferson’s father—Peter Jefferson—passed and left his property to Thomas and his brother Randolph. Thomas had big plans for this land, and by the late 1760s, he had already started putting his fascination with architecture to use. In 1768, he commenced building his forever-home, a sprawling mansion named Monticello.
Of course, it wouldn’t be long until he had someone to share his home with.
Jane Pitfield Peticolas, Wikimedia Commons
6. They Tied The Knot
Being a young, up-and-coming lawyer, Jefferson was still one of Virginia’s most eligible bachelors until the 1770s. As the decade began, he entered a relationship with his third cousin—Martha Wayles Skelton—and they bonded over music and horseback-riding. After a couple of years, the two married on January 1, 1772.
Unfortunately, they weren’t in for an easy ride.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
7. They Suffered Losses
Back in colonial times, it wasn’t always common for affluent people to enjoy a pleasant marriage, but it’s said that Thomas and Martha were noticeably happy. However, as was more common at the time, most of their children weren’t long for this world. Over a decade, they welcomed six children, only two of whom were lucky enough to survive till adulthood.
Still, the country was in for its own troubles.
Thomas Sully, Wikimedia Commons
8. He Witnessed The Beginning
By his early 30s, Jefferson had made waves in America’s burgeoning political landscape, becoming a delegate to the Second Continental Congress. In 1775, this role started to carry more weight as the Battles of Lexington and Concord kicked off the American Revolution, and he had to help figure out how to proceed with the rest of the delegates.
Politics wasn’t all he was interested in, though.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
9. He Was An Inventor
Along with Jefferson’s love of architectural design, he greatly enjoyed inventing things and became very skilled throughout his life. Along with improvements he made to existing devices, such as the polygraph or pedometer, he also came up with several ingenious creations like the revolving book-stand, and—funnily enough—the swivel chair.
Of course, there was a much more important revolution to deal with.
Agence de presse Meurisse, Wikimedia Commons
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10. They Were Fed Up
As Jefferson and the other delegates met in Philadelphia, they discussed their next step, knowing the colonies had had enough of Britain’s tyranny. Finally, they made a decision that defined history. The concept came forward to draft and publish a formal declaration of America’s independence from British rule. Naturally, this received a majority of votes.
In this process, he had one of the most impactful meetings of his life.
Rembrandt Peale, Wikimedia Commons
11. He Made A Friend
Among the other delegates, Jefferson hit it off with a colleague from Massachusetts named John Adams. As their friendship grew, it also proved fruitful as Adams recognized Jefferson’s unique potential. Suddenly, with Adams’ endorsement, Jefferson found himself appointed to the Committee of Five, tasked with writing the Declaration of Independence.
Despite this friendship, he was a bit of a lone wolf.
12. He Worked Alone
Over a couple of weeks in June 1776, Jefferson took charge of writing the Declaration. Although he could rely on input from the rest of the Committee of Five, including John Adams, Jefferson proved he was the right choice for the document’s main author. By June 28, he produced the Declaration’s first draft, having written it almost entirely by himself.
Despite that noble and impressive deed, it turns out he had good reason for keeping a close circle.
13. They Were Taking A Risk
Although most of the delegates recognized America’s desire to declare independence, there is a reason why they hadn’t made the decision lightly. Britain held a tight leash, and such a declaration amounted to high treason. Jefferson and the other Committee members knew this, but proceeded anyway and signed it on August 2, 1776.
Meanwhile, Jefferson still found time to shimmy up the political ladder.
14. He Became A Leader
Having served in several positions, such as the Albemarle County Militia commander and a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, Jefferson soon rose even higher. In 1779, Virginia’s residents elected him the new governor for a one-year term—at first. He seemingly did so good a job that they chose him for another term the following year.
This position meant more people listened to him, which became even more integral as the country turned toward drastic change.
Thomas Sully, Wikimedia Commons
15. He Raised The Alarm
Although Jefferson was no longer governor in 1781, his words still carried weight and allowed him to reach the right people when trouble came to his doorstep. That year, when the turncoat General Benedict Arnold invaded Virginia, Jefferson fled the enemy and contacted several commanders about the ongoing attack.
While he would survive this incident, tragedy was around the corner.
Thomas Hart, Wikimedia Commons
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16. He Lost Someone
Jefferson and Martha were married for 10 years before her health took a drastic turn for the worse. Aside from various maladies like diabetes and smallpox, the childbirths she had endured took a severe physical toll. Finally, shortly after the birth of their youngest—and after making Jefferson promise not to remarry—Martha sadly passed on September 6, 1782.
Although devastated, Jefferson carried on.
Charles Willson Peale, Wikimedia Commons
17. He Was Chosen
With America’s victory in the Battle of Yorktown, the Revolution concluded, and two years later, Britain signed the Treaty of Paris—acknowledging the colonies’ independence. Now a recognized sovereign nation, the colonies formed the new Congress of the Confederation. As he had done such a bang-up job before, Jefferson became Virginia’s delegate again.
This time, he used this station to his advantage.
Junius Brutus Stearns, Wikimedia Commons
18. He Fought For His Ideals
While Jefferson served as Virginia’s delegate, an issue arose when the national government acquired a massive stretch of territory northwest of the Ohio River. In response, he wrote the Land Ordinance of 1784, which not only argued for the government to divide the land into potential states, but also to ban slavery outright across their territories.
During this time, he received another era-defining assignment.
Congress of the Confederation, Wikimedia Commons
19. They Chose Him Again
Recognizing Jefferson’s legal prowess and skill in negotiation, the Congress of the Confederation gave him an important but difficult job. Along with fellow former Committee of Five members John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, Jefferson received the task of negotiating treaties with other countries.
And just like that, he was off.
20. He Traveled Abroad
Under Benjamin Franklin’s lead as Minister to France, Jefferson began his international tenure with a trip to Paris in July 1784. However, he didn’t have only his fellow Founding Fathers as company, since he decided to bring two servants and his daughter, Patsy. Still, during his time there, he missed his other daughter too much to leave her behind.
Benjamin West, Wikimedia Commons
21. He Sent For Her
Wanting to see his daughter, Polly, again, Jefferson sent for her to meet him in Paris. Being nine years old, however, Polly couldn’t travel alone, so she went with someone who was also in store for a family reunion. Jefferson had initially brought a servant named James Hemings with him, whose sister—another slave named Sally—was now on her way to France.
This led to an unfortunate meeting.
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22. He Made A Promise
Years later, Sally Hemings’ son, Madison, would claim that Jefferson had begun a relationship with her and fathered him, even though she was only 16 at the time. According to these claims, Sally had refused to return to America once she became pregnant, and only agreed to when Jefferson promised to free her children once they were older.
Around the same time, Jefferson was making local connections.
23. He Helped Them Out
Jefferson made friends everywhere, and while in Paris, he grew closer to the Marquis de Lafayette. Already having significant experience from his aid in the American Revolution, Lafayette became an integral force in the new French Revolution. Wanting to help as much as possible, Jefferson allowed his friend and the other revolutionaries to meet at his residence.
But of course, he couldn’t stay in France forever.
Joseph-Désiré Court, Wikimedia Commons
24. He Went Home
After helping Lafayette write up France’s declaration, Jefferson knew it was time to return home. Leaving Paris in 1789, he traveled back to America, eager to pick up where he left off and be more involved in the new national government. Although he was far away and against some of the more violent actions, he continued his support of the French Revolution.
Back in America, not everyone made him feel welcome.
Francois Rousseau, Wikimedia Commons
25. He Found A Rival
As soon as Jefferson got home, George Washington threw him back into the fray with a request to be Secretary of State. This job was far from easy, as he immediately faced America’s national debt and the question of its new capital. Not only that, but blocking him at every turn was the stubborn Secretary of the Treasury—Alexander Hamilton.
Jefferson was good, but he didn’t always get his way.
Gilbert Stuart, Wikimedia Commons
26. He Conceded
To deal with each state’s debt, Hamilton proposed that the government assume them collectively and create a national bank. On the other hand, Jefferson pushed for each state to deal with its own debt and wanted the nation’s capital in the south. Ultimately, the Compromise of 1790 chose Hamilton’s plan and placed the capital further north on the Potomac River.
Naturally, this wasn’t the last time Jefferson received an unwanted outcome.
John Trumbull, Wikimedia Commons
27. He Lost
In 1796, George Washington’s refusal to continue with a third term in office allowed Jefferson to reach for the highest station he could—the presidency. However, the candidate he was running against was his old friend. In a close culmination, Jefferson’s 68 electoral college votes were not enough to beat the 71 of his rival and now second president, John Adams.
This wasn’t the end for him, though.
John Trumbull, Wikimedia Commons
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28. He Tried Again
According to the laws of the time, being in second place, Jefferson became Vice President and stayed close to Adams. Then, in 1800, Jefferson ran again and had an easier time campaigning against his previous rival, since the public’s view had largely turned against Adams as a result of several poor decisions.
This time, the result was unnervingly close.
Thomas Sully, Wikimedia Commons
29. They Were Tied
John Adams ultimately proved himself of little threat, but Jefferson still didn't get off easy. He had to contend with presidential candidate, Aaron Burr. Shockingly, both Jefferson and Burr had created such an impact that they received the exact same number of votes. Therefore, as a tiebreaker, they had to turn to someone else.
John Vanderlyn, Wikimedia Commons
30. He Gave His Opinion
The Federalists had effectively been passed over, but still occupied most of the U.S. House of Representatives. So, due to the tie, it became their job to decide who would become the nation’s third president—Jefferson or Burr. More specifically, many looked to Hamilton, who surprisingly supported Jefferson as he believed Burr would cause more harm.
With this result, John Adams turned out to be a sore loser.
Gilbert Stuart; photo uploaded Daderot, Wikimedia Commons
31. He Took Office
After the election, Jefferson attended his swearing-in ceremony on March 4, 1801, immediately proving he differed from Washington or Adams. Walking in with his friends in plain clothes, his disdain for needless formality was evident. Perhaps former President Adams would have had something to say—if he had actually shown up.
Jefferson didn't dwell too much on the absence of his old friend. Now America’s third president, Jefferson had big ideas.
32. They Made A Plan
Just like when he came back from France, Jefferson faced the issue of a mounting national debt, with all of it resting on the government. With his new Secretary of the Treasury, Albert Gallatin, Jefferson thought up a series of solutions to eradicate the debt in 16 years. To begin, he decided to tear apart his rival—or more specifically, his rival's work. He started with the destruction of Hamilton's fiscal system, including a reduction in taxes.
But of course, the problems just kept coming.
Gilbert Stuart, Wikimedia Commons
33. He Foresaw An Issue
Although Jefferson had supported the French Revolution, now that they were on America’s doorstep, he wasn’t so thrilled. After France received ownership of Louisiana’s territory from Spain in 1800, Napoleon’s possible ambitions concerned Jefferson. Therefore, he tasked Robert R Livingston and James Monroe to negotiate a purchase of the territory.
Little did he know, Napoleon was thinking the same thing.
Edouard Detaille, Wikimedia Commons
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34. He Sold It
Livingston and Monroe prepared for brutal negotiations with France to buy Louisiana, but were pleasantly surprised. Napoleon had no intention of keeping the territory, and not only saw it as unfeasible, but could really use the money from such a sale to fuel his conflict with Britain. So, for $15 million, America purchased the 827,987 square miles of Louisiana land.
This was good, as Jefferson already had plans for all this new territory.
No machine-readable author provided. Varing assumed (based on copyright claims)., Wikimedia Commons
35. He Sent Them Off
With Louisiana secured, Jefferson turned his gaze to the unmapped territory further west, envisioning a new range of settlements. After convincing Congress to fund an exploratory expedition, Jefferson tasked Meriwether Lewis and William Clark with charting their way through the new lands to the Pacific Ocean.
All the while, his progressive views continued to be on display.
Charles Willson Peale, Wikimedia Commons
36. He Diverted From The Norm
Through all this land acquisition and exploration, the general public and those in power didn’t concern themselves with the land’s indigenous people, often seeing them as inferior. However, Jefferson pushed back against this view and argued that—while he thought their technology and culture weren’t as advanced—they were equal to the European colonists.
In keeping with this view, he came up with an idea.
Charles Marion Russell, Wikimedia Commons
37. He Offered A Plan
Rather than eradicating or driving out America’s indigenous people, Jefferson believed in the concept of assimilation and living together peacefully. According to what he called his “civilization program,” relations between the colonists and indigenous people would focus on how they could help each other, and would encourage tribes to make federal purchases.
No matter how contentious, these ideas got enough people on his side.
not indicated, Wikimedia Commons
38. He Won Again
Having grown tired of Burr as his vice president, Jefferson ran for re-election in 1804, but chose George Clinton to be his new running mate. This was the right call since, once the electoral college votes came in, Jefferson and Clinton won in a landslide majority of 162-14. Of course, he wasn’t finished stirring up the Americans’ sensibilities.
39. He Spoke Out
Two years into his second term as president, Jefferson addressed the issue of the international slave trade. While it had been prohibited during the Revolution, South Carolina had since backpedaled, to which Jefferson responded by urging Congress to criminalize it. Fortunately, they listened and outlawed the importation of slaves in 1807.
Still, he wouldn’t be the one in charge for much longer.
David Roberts, Wikimedia Commons
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40. He Was Finished
While many admired Jefferson enough to vote for him multiple times, the list of those who disliked him grew. Through various blunders and responses to the situation between Britain and France, the American public began turning against him. Finally, at the end of 1807, he announced that he would not run for a third term.
However, this wasn’t a bitter decision.
Internet Archive Book Images, Wikimedia Commons
41. He Was Relieved
Jefferson had spent his career wanting to improve the new United States, but after several years as president, he found he could no longer keep up the struggle. After he finished his second term in 1809, James Madison succeeded him in office, to whom he confided that relinquishing the presidency felt like being “released from his chains".
Not to mention, he completed what he set out to do.
John Vanderlyn, Wikimedia Commons
42. He Succeeded
Fortunately for him and all of America, Jefferson had been able to effect real change through his work as president. One of the most significant examples was his plan to decrease the massive debt America faced, and while he didn’t completely eliminate the debt by the end, he chipped away a sizeable $26 million.
Now that he was out of office, he had time for an old friend.
43. They Reconnected
Jefferson and Adams had become strong friends, but the difficulties and misunderstandings of politics got in the way until they couldn’t speak to each other without fighting. After several years, a mutual friend named Benjamin Rush subtly pushed them to start writing to each other, which quickly led to them working things out and rebuilding their friendship.
However, this wasn’t Jefferson’s only reunion.
Charles Willson Peale, Wikimedia Commons
44. They Met Again
One other man Jefferson had grown quite close to was the Marquis de Lafayette, but the two hadn’t seen each other since Jefferson left France in 1789. Thankfully, one summer day in 1824, Lafayette was visiting America at the request of President Monroe and stopped by Monticello. The two were so happy to see each other that “they burst into tears as they fell into each other's arms".
Unfortunately for Jefferson, misery was on the way.
Charles Willson Peale, Wikimedia Commons
45. He Fell Sick
As Jefferson entered his 80s, several conditions continued to wear away at his health, in no small part due to having injured his arm and wrist. Suffering from rheumatism, a urinary disorder, and intestinal issues, he eventually became so weak and sickly by mid-1826 that he couldn’t leave his bed.
These were all signs of the end for him.
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46. His Story Finished
Not long after becoming bedridden, Jefferson's condition became too much, and he soon succumbed to his ailments. While surrounded by friends and family, Jefferson declined the laudanum offered by his doctor and uttered his final words, in which he guessed it was July 4th. Surprisingly, he was right, and Thomas Jefferson passed on Independence Day.
Coincidentally, he wasn’t the only one who perished that day.
National Archives, Getty Images
47. They Were Still Connected
On the day Thomas Jefferson passed, something strange happened that proved how close he and John Adams had once again become. Only a few hours later, Adams also perished from a heart attack, making it clear that his friend was one of his last thoughts. As he hadn’t heard of Jefferson’s passing, Adams’ final words were “Thomas Jefferson survives”.
All in all, the third president’s legacy is a bit complicated.
Eliphalet Frazer Andrews, Wikimedia Commons
48. He Had Mixed Reviews
To this day, historians still debate the question of where Jefferson stood on the issue of slavery and what his impact on it as a whole was. Arguments for his character have ranged from claiming he was a proto-abolitionist who relied on slave labor to keep him in an influential position, to him simply flip-flopping on the issue.
Even on the personal side, he wasn’t a stranger to public speculation.
49. He Had Rumors About Him
Another topic that remains hotly debated is the question of how many illegitimate children Jefferson sired, considering that Madison Hemings wasn’t his and Sally’s only alleged child. Although some push back on this claim, pointing to a lack of evidence beyond a doubt, it’s widely believed that Jefferson fathered all of Sally Hemings’ children at Monticello.
Even with all this controversy, many still look up to him.
50. He Is Held Up
Although Thomas Jefferson constantly attempted to end slavery in America, if not the world, it’s important to remember that he still relied on and profited from his own slave labor. Still, in the long list of presidents since America’s founding, many often hold him up as one of the best. His tolerant and peace-seeking attitude toward other races and religions is just one aspect that cemented him as one of America’s greatest leaders.
UniversalImagesGroup, Getty Images
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