Thomas Jefferson
Wrote the Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) was the third President of the United States, serving from 1801-1809. He was also one of the most important Founding Fathers, and played a key role in drafting the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
Jefferson was born into a wealthy Virginia family, and was educated at the College of William & Mary. He became a lawyer, and was eventually elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses. He was a strong opponent of British colonial rule, and was a leading advocate for independence.
While he is most famous for his work on the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson also played a key role in many other areas. He was the primary author of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, which disestablished the Anglican Church in Virginia and promoted religious freedom for all. He also served as the first Secretary of State under President George Washington, and was instrumental in expanding the United States’ borders through the Louisiana Purchase.
Jefferson was a complex figure, with a complicated legacy. On one hand, he was a champion of individual rights and limited government. On the other hand, he was a lifelong slaveholder who wrote extensively about the supposed inferiority of African Americans. Despite his flaws, however, Jefferson remains one of the most important and influential figures in American history.
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