Thomas Jefferson: Contributions to Literature and Other Fields

Thomas Jefferson is commonly most notable for his contributions to American political history. He was President of the United States, the first secretary of state to George Washington, minister to France with Benjamin Franklin, governor of Virginia, and congressman. (725) Jefferson’s literary works strongly reflect the focus, love, and ambition that he had for this country. Aside from the aspirations for the United States, he also very much appreciated it’s then un-tainted beauty, as he makes note of in Notes on the State of Virginia when he speaks of the Natural Bridge, “It is impossible for the emotions, arising from the sublime, to be felt beyond what they are here: so beautiful an arch, so elevated, so light, and springing, as it were up to heaven, the rapture of the Spectator is really indescribable!” (733)

Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743 in Shadwell, or what is now known as Albemarle County, Virginia. He was born unto Jane Randolph Jefferson and Peter Jefferson. His mother was from a wealthy, and one of the first families of Virginia. His father was a self-educated man that became a country official and surveyor. (725) Sadly, Peter Jefferson died when young Thomas was only fourteen leaving him two thousand seven hundred and fifty acres of land.

Jefferson entered the college of William and Mary in 1760 when he was but seventeen years old. His habits were those of patience and severe application. Math was his favorite study, at which he very much excelled in. When came time for relaxation, he exercised his skill at the violin. Jefferson swiftly graduated in only two years with the highest of honors that the school offered. Afterwards, he studied law with a friend from William and Mary, George Wythe. In 1769 he began six years of service as a representative in the Virginia House of Burgesses. The following year he began building Monticello on part of the land inherited from his father. The exquisite mansion, which he designed in every detail, took years to complete, but part of it was ready for occupancy when he married Martha Wayles Skelton on January 1, 1772. They had six children, only two of whom survived into adulthood. (web)

Jefferson's reputation began to reach beyond Virginia in 1774, when he wrote a political pamphlet, A Summary View of the Rights of British America. Arguing on the basis of natural rights theory, Jefferson claimed that, “ties to the British monarchy were voluntary and not irrevocable.” (725) Elected to the Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, Jefferson was appointed on June 11, 1776, to head a committee of five in preparing the Declaration of Independence. Joining him were Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston. Jefferson is widely credited as the head writer. His reference to the voluntary allegiance of colonists to the crown was struck; also deleted was a clause that censured the monarchy for imposing slavery upon America. Jefferson was very unhappy with the changes made since they went against some of his main arguments. (web)

He served on the House of Delegates from 1776-1779 and sought to liberalize Virginia’s laws. In 1779 he was elected governor of Virginia where he received much criticism as a wartime governor. Afterwards he went on his first attempt at retirement, which was quickly interrupted by an opportunity to become a minister to France. He returned to find himself wanted by George Washington as the first Secretary of State. He took the opportunity and stayed for both terms. Another brief retirement followed which let him devote himself to his family and his farm. Farming was a lifelong passion for Jefferson. After three years of this he became Vice President for one term and then was elected President for two terms. He died at Monticello on July 4, 1826. (web)

Being a very well educated man, writing was always part of Jefferson’s life. His first notable work being, the Summary View of the Rights of British America, in 1775. His love of nature is well evident at Monticello and his farms, and also in Notes on the State of Virginia. Wherein Query Five he writes about the Natural Bridge, which lies on land near Lexington, Virginia that he himself owned. Jefferson goes into intense detail describing the natural wonder, even giving his estimated dimensions. ‘It is about 45 feet wide at the bottom, and 90 feet at the top; this of course determines the length of the bridge, and it’s height from the water.’ (733)

While in the Virginia House of Delegates, Jefferson introduced a bill on religious liberty that spurred an eight-year controversy. The bill stated that “all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain their opinions on matters of religion, and that their opinions on matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities.” (web)