Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman and Founding Father who served as the third president of the United States from 1801 to 1809. He was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence and served as the second vice president from 1797 to 1801. A proponent of democracy and individual rights, Jefferson helped motivate American colonists to break away from Great Britain.
During the American Revolution, he represented Virginia es, which adopted the Declaration of Independence. He served as the second Governor of Virginia from 1779 to 1781 and became the first Secretary of State under President George Washington from 1790 to 1793.Along with James Madison, he organized the Democratic-Republican Party to oppose the Federalist Party and authored the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions in 1798 and 1799, which sought to strengthen states' rights against the federal Alien and Sedition Acts.
As president, Jefferson focused on protecting U.S. sformer VP Aaron Burr. The Embargo Act of 1807 diminished foreign trade due to British threats. Additionally, Jefferson initiated the removal of Indian tribes to the Louisiana Territory and signed the Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves in 1807. After leaving office, he founded the University of Virginia. Thomas Jefferson was a planter, lawyer, and politician who excelled in various fields, including surveying, mathematics, horticulture, and mechanics. An architect in the classical tradition, he had a strong interest in religion and philosophy, serving as president of the American Philosophical Society. Although he rejected organized religion, he was influenced by Christianity and deism. Jefferson was proficient in several languages and was a prolific letter writer. His only complete book, *Notes on the State of Virginia* (1785), is significant in American literature.
Recognized as a key advocate for democracy and republicanism during the Enlightenment, Jefferson is celebrated for his promotion of religious freedom and tolerance in Virginia, maintaining a high reputation among U.S. presidents.
