Page 161 - Beers With Our Founding Fathers

A Patriot’s view of the history and direction of our Country

Thomas Jefferson
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April 13 1743 to July 04 1826
Governor, Founding Father, Secretary of State, Vice President, and

Third President
Author of the Declaration of Independence

Thomas Jefferson, our first secretary of state (1789-1794),

second vice president (1797-1801) and third president (1801-1809),

is most well-known for what is inscribed on his grave marker – for
which he left specific instructions, including the wording, so that he
might be remembered for what he felt were his greatest

contributions. The inscription reads, “Here was buried Thomas

Jefferson, Author of the Declaration of American Independence, of
the Statute of Virginia for religious freedom, and Father of the

University of Virginia” – he was right.
Jefferson was born and raised in Virginia, which would be his

life-time family home, to an elite upper-class family. On his
mother's side, the family tree traced back to English and Scottish

royalty. The Jefferson family, including himself until his own death,
were slave owners. There is much controversy to this aspect of

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