Thomas Jefferson

  • Birth

    Birth
    Thomas Jefferson was born at Shadwell, Virginia.
  • House of Burgesses

    House of Burgesses
    On this date, Thomas Jefferson joined the House of Burgesses.
  • Committee of 5

    Committee of 5
    Thomas Jefferson, along with John Adams, Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin, and Robert R. Livingston, were appointed to the making of the document to break ties with Britain. Jefferson would be the one to write it.
  • Declaration of Independence

    Declaration of Independence
    The Declaration of Independence, written by Jefferson and tweaked by the rest of the committee of 5, was issued into effect.
  • Governor of Virginia

    Governor of Virginia
    Thomas Jefferson was elected the second governor of the state of Virginia, winning over John Page and Thomas Nelson.
  • Minister to France

    Minister to France
    Thomas Jefferson became America's minister to France, in which he communicated treaties and observed the beginnings of the French Revolution.
  • Secretary of State

    Secretary of State
    Thomas Jefferson became the secretary of state under George Washington's presidency until December 31, 1793.
  • Vice Presidency

    Vice Presidency
    Thomas Jefferson was elected as the second vice president of the United States, under the presidency of John Adams, whom he lost to by 3 electoral votes.
  • Election

    Election
    Thomas Jefferson was elected as the third president of the United States, winning over former president John Adams and other candidate Arron Burr. He served from the years 1801-1809 in the Democratic-Republican Party.
  • Louisiana Purchase

    Louisiana Purchase
    Thomas Jefferson doubled the land of the United States by purchasing all 800,000 acres of the Louisiana Territory for only 15 million dollars. The land would later divided into many states of the country.
  • Westward Expansion

    Westward Expansion
    Thomas Jefferson sent a letter to the congress asking for funds to afford an exploration west in the new Louisiana Purchase. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were picked to lead the mission.
  • Death

    Death
    Thomas Jefferson died at his home, Monticello of unknown causes, at the age of 83.