Thomas Jefferson served as the third President of the United States from 1801 to 1809.¹⁾

He was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and played a key role in drafting the Declaration of Independence.²⁾

Jefferson is credited with being the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, which was adopted on July 4, 1776.³⁾

Apart from politics, Jefferson was an accomplished architect and designed his home, Monticello, as well as the Virginia State Capitol.⁴⁾

As president, Jefferson orchestrated the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, doubling the size of the United States by acquiring a vast territory from France.⁵⁾

Jefferson founded the University of Virginia in 1819 and is often referred to as its “father.”⁶⁾

He was the founder of the Democratic-Republican Party, which later evolved into the Democratic Party.⁷⁾

Jefferson is also known for his efforts in promoting religious freedom, and he drafted the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom in 1777.⁸⁾

Jefferson was fluent in several languages, including French, Italian, Latin, and Greek.⁹⁾

He had diverse interests, including gardening, paleontology, and playing the violin.¹⁰⁾

Jefferson was an inventor and is credited with inventing various devices, including a swivel chair and a spherical sundial.¹¹⁾

Jefferson held Deist beliefs, rejecting traditional Christian doctrines and emphasizing reason in understanding God.¹²⁾

He began his education at the age of five and was proficient in Latin, Greek, and French by the time he reached adolescence.¹³⁾

Jefferson was a lawyer by profession and practiced law in Virginia.¹⁴⁾

Before becoming president, he served as the second Governor of Virginia from 1779 to 1781.¹⁵⁾

Jefferson served as the first Secretary of State under President George Washington from 1790 to 1793.¹⁶⁾

Jefferson was a meticulous record keeper, maintaining detailed records of weather, crop rotations, and other aspects of daily life.¹⁷⁾

He implemented the Embargo Act of 1807, an attempt to maintain U.S. neutrality in European conflicts by restricting trade, but it had adverse economic consequences.¹⁸⁾

Jefferson often used informal gatherings and dinner parties to engage in political discussions and advance his agenda, a style referred to as “dinner table diplomacy.”¹⁹⁾

Jefferson commissioned the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806) to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Territory.²⁰⁾

He had a keen interest in collecting coins and was a numismatist, with a substantial collection of coins from various countries.²¹⁾

Jefferson experienced personal tragedy, losing his wife Martha to illness and several children who died in infancy.²²⁾

Jefferson had a complicated relationship with John Adams but rekindled their friendship through correspondence in their later years.²³⁾

The Library of Congress was reestablished in 1800 after the original collection was destroyed during the War of 1812, using Jefferson's personal library as a foundation.²⁴⁾

Many famous quotes are attributed to Jefferson, including “All men are created equal” and “I cannot live without books.”²⁵⁾

He maintained detailed weather records at Monticello, noting temperature, wind direction, and other meteorological observations.²⁶⁾

Despite advocating for equality, Jefferson was a slave owner, and the issue of slavery remained a complex aspect of his legacy.²⁷⁾

Jefferson was a strict constructionist, believing in a limited interpretation of the Constitution and advocating for states' rights.²⁸⁾

He embodied Enlightenment ideas, emphasizing reason, individual rights, and skepticism of authoritarianism.²⁹⁾

Jefferson had an extensive personal library, which he sold to the U.S. government to form the basis of the Library of Congress.³⁰⁾

Before becoming president, Jefferson served as Vice President under John Adams from 1797 to 1801.³¹⁾

Jefferson had a fascination with nature and was an amateur naturalist, studying and documenting various plants and animals.³²⁾

He had refined tastes in food and wine, introducing dishes like macaroni and cheese to the United States.³³⁾

After his presidency, Jefferson retired to Monticello, where he continued to engage in various intellectual pursuits.³⁴⁾

Jefferson strongly opposed the Alien and Sedition Acts during Adams' presidency, considering them unconstitutional.³⁵⁾

He held pacifist ideals, advocating for peaceful relations with Native American tribes and other nations.³⁶⁾

Jefferson is credited with introducing French cuisine to America, popularizing dishes such as French fries and ice cream.³⁷⁾

Jefferson was a prolific letter writer, with thousands of surviving letters providing insights into his thoughts and actions.³⁸⁾

He was skeptical of maintaining a standing army during peacetime, fearing its potential threat to democracy.³⁹⁾

Jefferson was an art enthusiast and a collector, amassing a significant collection of paintings and sculptures.⁴⁰⁾

Despite his accomplishments, Jefferson faced financial difficulties throughout his life, often struggling with debt.⁴¹⁾

Jefferson introduced girandole mirrors, a type of wall mirror, to the United States after encountering them in Paris.⁴²⁾

He played a role in the establishment of the United States Military Academy at West Point.⁴³⁾

Jefferson had a fascination with fossils and kept a collection of prehistoric bones, contributing to early American paleontology.⁴⁴⁾

Thomas Jefferson's legacy is complex, as he is celebrated for his contributions to American independence and democracy but also criticized for his views on race and slavery.⁴⁵⁾