The Early Life of Thomas Jefferson

The New Nation
Written By Tom Hand

Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743, in a small farmhouse on the frontier of western Virginia, in today’s Albemarle County. His father, Peter Jefferson, was a mountain of a man and well-respected throughout the region as a surveyor who ranged far and wide over the western portions of the colony. Peter’s work brought him significant wealth and put him in contact with the leading authorities in the colony. Sadly, in the summer of 1757, when Tom was fourteen, his father got sick and passed away, leaving behind a widow and eight children and a sizeable, debt-free estate. One of his father’s dying wishes was for Tom to complete his education, and in March 1760, Jefferson entered the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg.

Tom Hand, creator and publisher of Americana Corner, explores the early life of Thomas Jefferson, and why it still matters today.

Images courtesy of: National Gallery of Art, National Portrait Gallery - Smithsonian Institution, New York Public Library, Encyclopedia Virginia, Picryl, University of South Florida, Library of Congress, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Wikimedia.

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