Thomas Jefferson is known for many things; he’s an author of the declaration of independence, a lawyer, and of course, the third president of the United States of America. He was born on April 13th of 1743 and lived to be 83 years old, an age that was almost unheard of back then. Jefferson went to school in Virginia, where he graduated to become a lawyer. Shortly after graduation, he married Martha Wayles. He had six children with Martha and after her death vowed to never re-marry, although he did go on to maintain a long lasting relationship with one of his slaves, which resulted in children.
Jefferson’s expertise in law had helped him greatly in achieving his great accomplishments. Because of his knowledge of law, he was qualified to author several important documents and make decisions at the national level. He was a wartime governor from 1779 up until 1781 and became a United States Minister to France in 1785. During this time, he was also busy organizing the Democratic - Republican Party, of which several important figures took notice. As he gained fame and his name spread, word of him eventually arrived to the highest of the nation. John Adams, president at the time, took notice of Jefferson and offered him a position as Vice President of the United States. John and Thomas not only had a professional relationship, but are also known to have been good friends. Jefferson valued friendship deeply, even stating, “I find friendship to be like wine, raw when new, ripened with age, the true old man’s milk and restorative cordial.”
Jefferson would have never made it to the top, had he not been so clever. He had several interests and spoke many languages. He had a passion for math, architecture, and even gardening. His love for gardening is clear in his letter to Charles W. Peale on August 20, 1811, where he said, “No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, and no culture comparable to that of the garden… But though an old man, I am but a young gardener.” Much of his knowledge was not obtained during his years in school, however, because he undoubtedly also gained a lot of knowledge reading books. There didn’t have many options for recreation back then. Some would garden, some would talk to each other and some would simply read. Thomas Jefferson was one of those individuals who actually not only read out of boredom, but also because he liked reading. In one of his letters to John Adams, Thomas speaks fondly of books, “I cannot live without books: but fewer will suffice where amusement, and not use, is the only future object.”
Jefferson might come across as a rather boring and plain individual, when reading this article, but that couldn’t be less true; Thomas had a very bright and creative mind. He even built his own house from scratch. Using his knowledge of architecture, he built Monticello, a building that to this day is still standing. He has even written about architecture; we learned that from the communication between him and Latrobe on October 10, 1809. Thomas said, “My essay in Architecture has been so much subordinated to the law of convenience, & affected also by the circumstance of change in the original design, that it is liable to some unfavorable & just criticisms,” meaning not everyone agreed with his architectural plans. This did not stop Jefferson from building Monticello. The construction of Monticello began in 1768, and by 1770 he had moved in. Martha Wayles and Jefferson married on January 1st of 1772, and of course Martha then also moved into Monticello.
Thomas Jefferson is also known for other quotes, some that still ring true in this day and age. Many of these quotes can be found in his unfinished autobiography and many of the biographies written about Thomas Jefferson. For example, “When angry, count ten, before you speak; if very angry, a hundred” is a quote that some would benefit from if still practiced today. Counting when angry helps you rationalize your thoughts and feelings, and odds are, you will feel more at ease after counting. What is also a very wise quote is: “Pride costs us more than hunger, thirst and cold.” It’s true, pride is something we have to put aside every now and then, otherwise we’d never accomplish anything. Jefferson is also known for the following quotes:
