Thomas Jefferson Facts for Kids

A Picture of Thomas Jefferson
  • Name: Thomas Jefferson
  • Profession: U.S. President, Statesman and Diplomat
  • Born: April 13th, 1743 in Shadwell, Virginia, British America
  • Died: July 4th, 1826 in Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
  • Resting Place: Monticello, VA, USA
  • Legacy: Famous for being the 3rd U.S. President and a founding father of the USA

27 Thomas Jefferson Facts for Kids

  1. Thomas Jefferson was a founding father and president of the United States.
  2. Thomas Jefferson is most famous for being the 3rd president of the United States and one of its founding fathers.
  3. Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13rd, 1743 in Shadwell, Virginia, British America.
  4. Thomas Jefferson was the son of Jane Randolph and Peter Jefferson.
  5. Thomas Jefferson married Martha Wayles on January 1st, 1772.
  6. Thomas and Martha Jefferson had six children together, five girls and one boy.
  7. Thomas Jefferson died at the age of 83 on July 4th, 1826 in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States.
  8. In 1757, Jefferson’s father Peter Jefferson died when he was 15 years old.
  9. Between 1760 and 1762, Jefferson attended the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, British America.
  10. In 1762, Jefferson began to study law with American law professor and judge George Wythe.
  11. In 1767, Jefferson was admitted to the Virginia bar and able to practice law.
  12. Between 1769 and 1775, Jefferson was a delegate for the Virginia House of Burgesses.
  13. In 1774, Jefferson retired from his legal practice and wrote the tract “A Summary View of the Rights of British America.
  14. In 1775, Jefferson was elected to the Second Continental Congress at the age of 33.
  15. In 1776, Jefferson drafted the United States Declaration of Independence. He was one of five members of a committee appointed to create a draft. The committee chose Jefferson to create the actual draft.
  16. Between 1779 and 1781, Jefferson was elected and served as the Governor of Virginia.
  17. In 1782, Jefferson’s wife Martha died four months after the birth of her sixth child.
  18. In 1783, Jefferson was elected to the Congress of the Confederation as a Virginia delegate.
  19. Between 1790 and 1793, Jefferson was appointed by George Washington as the first Secretary of State.
  20. In 1796, Jefferson lost the third quadrennial United States presidential election to John Adams. Jefferson did serve as the Vice President of the United States to John Adams.
  21. In 1800, Jefferson won the fourth quadrennial United States presidential election by defeating John Adams. This made Jefferson the 3rd president of the United States. Aaron Burr was the Vice President of the United State.
  22. In 1803, Jefferson began the process to what is now known as the Louisiana Purchase.
  23. In 1804, Jefferson won the fifth quadrennial United States presidential election by defeating Charles Cotesworth Pinckney. Aaron Burr was replaced with George Clinton for Vice President of the United State.
  24. In 1819, the University of Virginia was founded by Thomas Jefferson.

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