Portrait and biographical album of Ingham and Livingston counties, Michigan, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties ... the governors of the state and of all the presidents of the United States.

T.hrIRD PRESIDENT.

27

'~i~^H HOMAS JEFFERSON was
y l- | 11 born Ap)ril 2, 1743, at Shadwell, Albermarle county, Va.
3 ' g! ^His larents were Peter and
Jane ( Randolph) Jefferson,
o~.~ the former a native of Wales,,,~ and the latter born in Londo don. To them were born six
I ~ daughters and two sons, of
whom Thomas was the elder.
When 14 years of age his
l V father died. He received a
most liberal education, hav'X bing been kept diligently at school
from the time he was five years of
age. In 1760 he entered William
c.nd Mary College. Williamsburg was then the seat
of the Colonial Court, and it was the obode of fashion
a-d splendor. Young Jefferson, who was then 17
years old, lived somewhat expensively, kecping fine
horses, and much caressed by gay society, yet he
was earnestly devoted to his studies, and irreproachaable in his morals. It is strange, however, under
such influences,that he was not ruined. In the second year of his college course, moved by some unexplained inward impulse, he discarded his horses,
society, and even his favorite violin, to which he had
previo-lsly given much time. He often devoted fifteen
hours a day to hard study, allowing himself for exercise only a run in the evening twilight of a mile out
of the city and back again. He thus attained very
high intellectual culture, alike excellence in philosophy and the languages. The most difficult Iatin and
Greek authors he read with facility. A more finished
scholar has seldom gone forth from college halls; and

there was not to be found, perhaps, in all Virginia, a
more pureminded, upright, gentlemanly young man.
Immediately upon leaving college he began the
study of law. For the short time he continued in the
practice of his profession he rose rapidly and distinguished himself by his energy and accuteness as a
lawyer. But the times called for greater action.
The policy of England had awakened the spirit of
resistance of the American Colonies, and the enlarged
views which Jefferson had ever entertained, soon led
him into active political life. In 1769 he was chosei
a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses. In
1772 he married Mrs. Martha Skelton, a very beautiful, wealthy and highly accomplished young widow
Upon Mr. Jefferson's large estate at Shadwell, the.re
was a majestic swell of land, called Monticello, whicl
comnmanded a prospect of wonderful extent and
beauty. This spot Mr. Jefferson selected for his new
home; and here he reared a mansion of modest yet
elegant architecture, which, next to Mount Vernon
became the most distinguished resort in our land.
In 1775 he was sent to the C(lonial Congress.
where, though a silent member, his abilities as a
writer and a reasoner soon become known, and he
was placed upon a number of important committees,
and was chairman of the one appointed for the drawing up of a declaration of independence. This committee consisted of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams,
Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and Robert R.
Livingston. Jefferson, as chairman, was appointed
to draw up the paper. Franklin and Adams suggested
a few verbal changes before it was submitted to Congress. On June 28, a few slight changes were made
in it by Congress, and it was passed and signed July
4, 1776, What must have been the feelings of that