Jefferson, Thomas 1743 -- 1826 Third president of the United States; principal author of the Declaration of Independence. Born April 13, 1743, in Shadwell, Virginia. His father, Peter Jefferson, was a surveyor who built a substantial estate including approximately 60 African-American slaves; he died in 1757. His mother, the former Jane Randolph, was a member of one of Virginia’s most prominent families. Jefferson was the eldest of two sons; he also had six sisters. In 1760, Jefferson entered the College of …showed first 75 words of 2722 total…

…showed last 75 words of 2722 total…home in Quincy, Massachusetts-on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In his chosen epitaph, Jefferson made no mention of his eight years as America’s president, leaving behind a vision of this deeply complex man the way he himself wanted to be remembered: “Thomas Jefferson: Author of the Declaration of American Independence, of the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom, and Father of the University of Virginia.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **Bibliography**