Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743, in Virginia. His father, Peter Jefferson, was a successful planter and surveyor in Virginia. His mother, Jane Randolph Jefferson, was from a wealthy family.

Thomas Jefferson grew up in Virginia and lived at a house he named Monticello.  He had over 200 slaves working on the farm at his house. 

In 1760 Jefferson attended the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. After graduating he went on to study law.  He began practicing law in 1767.

Thomas Jefferson married Martha Wayles Skelton. They had many children but only two of their children lived to be adults.

Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence. This means he wrote this very important document.  John Adams, the second president, worked with him to write it.

Before he was president, Thomas Jefferson was the Governor of Virginia in 1779.  He was also the Vice President of the United States when John Adams was president.

Jefferson was elected President in 1800. He served from 1800-1808. He was the third president of the United States. His Vice-Presidents were Aaron Burr and George Clinton.

During his presidency Jefferson organized the purchase of the Louisiana Territory from France in 1803. The Louisiana Purchase increased the area of the United States by more than half.  This was a very important purchase.  The land that Jefferson bought from the French created many of the states in the western part of the US.