“Resolved, therefore, That the General Assembly of this Colony, together with his Majesty or his Substitutes, have, in their Representative Capacity, the only exclusive Right and Power to lay Taxes and Imposts upon the Inhabitants of this Colony: And that every Attempt to vest such Power in any other Person or Persons whatever, than the General Assembly aforesaid, is illegal, unconstitutional and unjust …”  

It was during this speech by Patrick Henry in 1765 a young Thomas Jefferson was in attendance in the House of Burgesses. He was so roused by Representative Henry’s words that he became a full-throated patriot. Mr. Jefferson would go on to become one of the most influential Americans in the founding of America. 

He was born on April 13, 1743 on the family estate, Shadwell Plantation, in present-day Albemarle County, Virginia. His father died when he was 14 years of age leaving him 3,000 acres of land. In 1760, he began studying at William & Mary College and two years later he became a student at law in George Wythe’s law office. At age 26, he was elected to the House of Burgesses. 

His first major contribution to the cause for independence was the pamphlet, “A Summary View of the Rights of British America.” In it, Mr. Jefferson challenged Parliamentary intrusion into the governing affairs of the colonies and asserted their connection to the crown was of their own volition. It was published in England and irked Lord Dunmore, the royal governor of Virginia, greatly. The governor threatened to charge him with high treason. His colleagues in the House intervened on his behalf and Lord Dunmore’s threat dissipated with time.

Thomas Jefferson was selected to be a delegate to the First Continental Congress in 1775. He was very active in smaller settings, such as in committee. He was decisive unlike his approach when on the floor of the Congress. In his first year, his enthusiasm for liberty was interpreted as stridency and proved too much for his colleagues. But a year later, Britain’s antagonism toward the colonies brought a different tone more agreeable to Mr. Jefferson’s.

After Richard Henry Lee proposed a resolution on independence on June 7th, Mr. Jefferson was selected along with John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Philip Livingston to draft a declaration in conjunction with the resolution in committee. The initial draft by Mr. Jefferson was edited by Mr. Franklin and Mr. Adams, and then the full committee made an additional 47 edits. When the resolution was passed on July 2nd, intense work commenced on the draft created by Mr. Jefferson. During this period, 39 more alterations were made. 

During the revisional process, the most infamous edit was the removal of the statement against slavery. In the section, he blamed King George III for creating the international slave trade. He termed the institution of slavery as “piratical warfare,” “execrable commerce” and an “assemblage of horrors.” There is no official record as to why the section speaking against slavery was removed. Mr. Jefferson blamed South Carolina and Georgia and northern delegates who had a stake in the slave trade for the section’s removal. In its place, a more generic statement against the king was inserted.

The process of crafting and completing the Declaration was not as neat and tidy as desired. Richard Henry Lee wrote a letter of consolation to Thomas Jefferson on July 21st stating he had misgivings about the document being “mangled as it is.” The unpleasantness of it all remained with Mr. Jefferson until his death. In his autobiography, he tried to provide an accurate telling of what had and had not happened.

After the signing of the Declaration, Mr. Jefferson returned to Virginia and assisted in solidifying the state’s law code. He, George Wythe, and Edmund Pendleton worked hard revising the laws of the state. One law, in particular, established religious freedom. It was introduced in 1779, but passage did not take place for seven years. He also introduced a bill banning the importation of slaves and another bill helping improve education in the state. 

While serving his home state, Thomas Jefferson came under threat a couple of times. In the spring of 1781, Richmond was being attacked by the traitor, Brigadier General Benedict Arnold, and his men. Mr. Jefferson and his council were in immediate danger and barely escaped. Later in the same year, Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton almost captured members of the legislature at Charlottesville. Due to the close proximity to his home, Mr. Jefferson sent his family away to shelter safely. He remained behind to attend to some matters. As he was working, British soldiers approached his house. He saw them and fled his home, mounted his horse, and stole away into the woods. Mr. Jefferson joined his family a short time later.   

In 1784, Thomas Jefferson was selected, with John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, to be ministers representing the new United States in trade negotiations with other countries. He also developed the American currency structure in the same year. He replaced Mr. Franklin as minister to France and served until 1789. He did not play a considerable role in the forming of the Constitution of the United States. The one aspect he did influence significantly was the inclusion of a bill of rights in the U.S. Constitution. Mr. Jefferson was more concerned with the directives of what the government could not do rather than what it could and how it would carry out its duties.

In time, Thomas Jefferson’s attention became focused on the presidency of the United States. In the 1790s, he significantly criticized the Federalists and their support for the centralization of power. Legislative actions such as the passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts violated “the spirit of ’76,” he claimed and justified secession from the other states. Mr. Jefferson and James Madison wrote a set of resolutions against them calling out the federal government for assuming powers not granted them by the states. This line of reasoning would be used later by the southern states when they seceded.

This was the backdrop to the presidential campaign of 1800. The campaign is known as one of the most ugly in American history. Mr. Jefferson was labeled an atheist and an anarchist, among other things, by the Federalist press. He was also accused of being a treasonous conspirator during his time in the administrations of Presidents Washington (as secretary of state) and Adams (as vice president). In return, Mr. Adams was called a "hideous hermaphroditical character, which has neither the force and firmness of a man, nor the gentleness and sensibility of a woman." The ultimate slander was committed by Mr. Jefferson. He paid a journalist to smear then President Adams with the accusation of desiring to attack France. The claim was completely unfounded.  

Mr. Jefferson did win the campaign in 1800 and served two terms as president of the United States. His accomplishments of note are the Louisiana Purchase, the exploration of the Rocky Mountains, and the Embargo Act on commerce and ocean navigation. At the close of his second term, he was drained physically and mentally. He retired to Monticello to regain his strength and live out the remaining years of his life. He would also struggle financially and unfortunately was forced to sell his library to continue financing his family’s needs.

His final crowning achievements were the completion of his beloved Monticello in 1809 and the establishment of the University of Virginia in 1819.

As the nation approached the 50th commemoration of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, with whom he reconciled after the bitter presidential campaign, fell ill. Death would overtake them both on July 4, 1826. Mr. Jefferson passed a few hours before Mr. Adams. Of all of his achievements, he picked only three to be noted on his gravestone: “Author of the Declaration of American Independence, of the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom, and Father of the University of Virginia.” 

Thomas Jefferson lived to be 83 years of age.