Illustrated history of the United States mint / with a complete description of American coinage, from the earliest period to the present time

by Unknown

THOMAS JEFFERSON,

an eminent American Statesman, and third President of the United States, was born April 2, 1743, at Shadwell, Virginia, near the spot which afterwards became his residence, with the name of Monticello. He was the oldest son in a family of eight children. His father, Peter Jefferson, was a man of great force of character and of extraordinary physical strength. His mother, Jane Randolph, of Goochland, was descended from an English family of great note and respectability. Young Jefferson began his classical studies at the age of nine, and at seventeen he entered an advance class at William and Mary College; on his way thither, he formed the acquaintance of Patrick Henry, who was then a bankrupt merchant, but who afterwards became the great orator of the Revolution. At college, Jefferson was distinguished by his close application, and devoted, it is said, from twelve to fifteen hours per day to study, and we are told became well versed in Latin, Greek, Italian, French, and Spanish, at the same time proficient in his mathematical studies. After a few years course of law under Judge Wythe, he was admitted to the bar in 1767. His success in the legal profession was remarkable; his fees during the first year amounted to nearly three thousand dollars. In 1769, Jefferson commenced his public career as a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, in which he had while a student of law, listened to Patrick Henry’s great speech on the Stamp Act. In 1773 he united with Patrick Henry and other revolutionary patriots in devising the celebrated committee of correspondence for disseminating intelligence between the Colonies, of which Jefferson was one of the most active and influential members. He was elected in 1774 to a convention to choose delegates to the first Continental Congress at Philadelphia, and introduced at that convention his famous “Summary view of the rights of British America.” On the 21st of June, 1775, Jefferson took his seat in the Continental Congress. His reputation as a Statesman and accomplished writer at once placed him among the leaders of that renowned body. He served on the most important committees, and among other papers drew up the reply of Congress to the proposal of Lord North, and assisted in preparing in behalf of the Colonies, a declaration of the cause of taking up arms against the Mother Country. The rejection of a final petition to King George, destroyed all hope of an honorable reconciliation with England. Congress, early in 1776, appointed a committee to draw up a Declaration of Independence, of which Jefferson was made Chairman; in this capacity he drafted, at the request of the other members of the committee, (Franklin, Adams, Sherman, and Livingston), and reported to Congress, June 28, the great Charter of Freedom, known as the “Declaration of American Independence,” which, on July 4, was unanimously adopted, and signed by every member present, with a single exception. “The Declaration of Independence,” says Edward Everett, “is equal to anything ever borne on parchment, or expressed in the visible signs of thought.” “The heart of Jefferson in writing it,” adds Bancroft, “and of Congress in adopting it, beat for all humanity.” After resigning his seat in Congress, Jefferson revised the laws of Virginia; among other reforms, he procured the repeal of the laws of entail, the abolition of primogeniture, and the restoration of the rights of conscience, a reform which he believed would abolish “every fibre of ancient or future aristocracy;” he also originated a complete system of elementary and collegiate education for Virginia. In 1779, Jefferson succeeded Patrick Henry as Governor of Virginia, and held the office during the most gloomy period of the Revolution, and declined a re-election in 1781. In 1783, he returned to Congress, and reported the treaty of peace, concluded at Paris, September 3, 1783, acknowledging the independence of the United States. He also proposed and carried through Congress a bill establishing the present Federal system of coinage, which took the place of the English pounds, shillings, pence, etc., and also introduced measures for establishing a Mint in Philadelphia, (the first public building built by the general Government, still standing on Seventh street, east side, near Filbert). In 1785, he succeeded Dr. Franklin as resident Minister at Paris. In organizing the Government after the adoption of the Constitution, he accepted the position of Secretary of State, tendered him by President Washington during his first term. Jefferson was Vice-President of the United States from 1797 to 1801, and President for the two consecutive terms following. After participating in the inauguration of his friend and successor, James Madison, Jefferson returned to Monticello, where he passed the remainder of his life in directing the educational and industrial institutions of his native State and entertaining his many visitors and friends. His death occurred on the same day with that of John Adams, July 4, 1826.