Born on April 13, 1743 in Albemarle County, Virginia. At the age of 16 he entered the College of William and Mary and graduated with the highest honors in A dedicated and hard-working student, Jefferson displayed an enthusiastic curiosity in all subjects and, according to the family tradition, frequently studied fifteen hours a day. He lived in the Wren Building.

Thomas Jefferson wanted the 13 colonies to become a nation. He was such a good writer that he was one of five men chosen to write the Declaration of Independence. When he had finished it, he gave it to the Continental Congress, and on July 4, 1776 it was adopted. Jefferson is known as the Father of the Declaration of independence.

Included in the Declaration of Independence is the belief that all men are created equal. Also, that people have certain rights and these rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Representatives from all of the 13 colonies signed the document.

When George Washington was president, Jefferson was his secretary of state. Then he served as vice president under the second president, John Adams. Jefferson was elected the third president of the United States in 1801.

Jefferson founded, designed, and built the University of Virginia. He took a cold foot bath every morning for 60 years. Jefferson was the first President to shake hands instead of bow to people. Jefferson was the first president to be inaugurated in Washington, D.C. Thomas Jefferson was once given a 1,235 pound hunk of cheese, giving us the term "the big cheese."

Thomas Jefferson was born in Virginia and lived at Monticello in Charlottesville, Virginia. He was the author of the Declaration of Independence which states that people have certain rights. Thomas Jefferson was elected the third president of the United States. He was a leader who helped develop the country.