Thomas Jefferson was a fascinating figure who may be defined as an enlightened man. He was born on April 13, 1743, the third of ten siblings. Thomas Jefferson was elected president of the United States on March 4, 1801. He served as the third president of the United States until his second term ended on March 4, 1809, and he was a pivotal figure in American history.
He was a polymath with talents as a politician, lawyer, archeologist, gardener, architect, farmer, philosopher, paleontologist, revolutionary, and inventor, according to history. Jefferson may be considered a Renaissance man, with knowledge in a wide range of fields. Thomas Jefferson attended William and Mary College.
There he studied law and practiced as a lawyer between 1768 and 1773. Jefferson’s first wife was Martha Wayles Skelton, they were married on January 1, 1772. They had six children out of which only two lived past adulthood.
Now, let's look at some other fascinating facts Thomas Jefferson had during his stay on this earth.
1. The Citizen Man
Do you know why Jefferson was dubbed "the People's Man"? He is known to have welcomed visitors to the White House in a robe and slippers. He was dubbed "man of the people" because of his casual clothes. Thomas Jefferson is noted for his friendliness when entertaining visitors at the White House.
The picture portrayed by "The Sage of Monticello" gained him a second nickname, "Man of the People." Despite being a staunch supporter of the free press, Jefferson occasionally sparred with partisan publications and appealed to the people. When he greeted citizens, Jefferson was the first president to shake their hands instead of simply bowing. He was far more approachable and personable as a result of this than his predecessors.
2. Thomas Jefferson has a one-of-a-kind gravestone
What's on Jefferson's Gravestone? The third president of the United States was Thomas Jefferson. You'd think this would be the first thing you see on his tombstone, but you'd be incorrect, and it's probably the least interesting thing you'll read as we go on. Being president was not even on Jefferson's list of three main accomplishments to be remembered for and written on his tombstone.
The following are the three inscriptions on Jefferson's tombstone: Father of the University of Virginia, author of the Declaration of Independence, and author of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom.
There isn't a single reference to being President of the United States. Some believe his presidency was overlooked because he had such conflicting sentiments about politics; well, it's something to consider, isn't it?
3. An Irresponsible Money Manager
Thomas Jefferson was a brilliant man, but he had a flaw. Jefferson was a multilingual man. Jefferson was an inventor, a musician, and an architect, but it was claimed that he lived permanently over his means, spending vast sums of money on furniture, wines, and construction projects.
Because he was a bad money manager, he spent most of his life in debt. Jefferson's terrible financial management put him in debt for the majority of his adult life, until his death. Perhaps the financial panic of 1819 contributed greatly to his already-significant debt, especially when combined with the fact that he later acquired debt from a buddy in particular.
4. Did Jefferson enjoy reading? He was also a book aficionado
Jefferson adored literature and was a voracious and inquisitive reader. When British troops assaulted the US Library of Congress in 1814, it was reported. All of the books were destroyed, and Jefferson volunteered to replace them with books from his own collection. In 1815, the library was reconstructed, and Jefferson kept his word. The library had been refilled with 6,587 books, all from Jefferson's personal library, when it reopened.
5. A private individual with a wide range of abilities
When it came to learning and writing, Thomas Jefferson was a natural, but when it came to public speaking, he lacked the same ability. Despite the fact that his speeches were well-written.
This is all that is known about Jefferson; he was a private man who kept his personal life secret, but despite this, there are 18,000 of his letters in the public domain today. This "man of letters" is well-versed in a wide range of subjects and has been dubbed a great visionary.
Jefferson wrote Notes on the State of Virginia and edited the New Testament of the Bible into a volume that he thought was more plausible, deleting the passages about all of Jesus' miracles and keeping what he believed to be Jesus' moral lessons.
When it came to speaking in front of crowds, Jefferson was a disaster. It was because of this dread that he shied away from the limelight and became a recluse. It's worth noting that this anxiety prompted him to write the State of the Union message to Congress, a tradition that lasted until 1913.
6. Slavery Opponents in the Public Eye
Jefferson proposed a plan to abolish slavery in 1783, yet he owned slaves. Jefferson is reported to have had around 600 slaves and five children with Sally Hemings, a slave. Jefferson signed the bill abolishing slavery in 1807, completing his ambition. Was Jefferson, then, a hypocrite? Jefferson is thought to have been unable to liberate his slaves until he paid off his debt. Until his death, Jefferson was in debt.
7. What are the similarities between Jefferson and John Adams?
Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were two past US presidents and founding fathers who became bitter adversaries over time. Adams served as president before Jefferson (1797-1800). They reunited later in life, but Jefferson died on July 4, 1826, just a few months after.
It had been 50 years since the United States had declared independence. Then there's the clincher. Adams and Jefferson died on the same day, and Jefferson died barely five hours before Adams, on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
According to legend, John Adams died on his deathbed on July 4, 1826, at the age of 90, while his country celebrated Independence Day. Adams' final words were that Thomas Jefferson still lived, but he was mistaken: at the age of 82, the younger Jefferson had passed away at Monticello.
8. Vegetarian
Thomas Jefferson ate only vegetables (almost). Jefferson was not exactly a "genuine vegetarian" by today's standards, but he came close. Peas and lettuce were two of his favorite foods. He would collect seeds on his travels throughout the world and grow them in his garden at the Monticello complex. Jefferson ate mostly vegetables and only a small amount of meat. There are around 180 fruits and 260 veggies in the garden.
9. An Inventor from the United States of America
The swivel chair was invented by Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was a prolific inventor, with some claiming that he invented the swivel chair and others claiming that he improved it. In any case, Jefferson had a talent for using science, technology, innovation, and innovations to further societal advancement. A rotating bookstand that could hold up to five books at once was one of his favorite devices.
10. French fries and Thomas Jefferson
In 1802 at the Monticello, Jefferson served french fries (what we call chips in the UK) to the general public for the first time. Even though there was a worry that potatoes were harmful, Jefferson disproved this myth by presenting his version of french fries without incident.
As previously stated, Thomas Jefferson died on July 4, 1826, in his bed at home. Being one of the founders of the Declaration of Independence added to his legacy.
"My reading of history convinces me that most poor governments stem from too much government," he said, demonstrating his foresight. Was he correct?