Statesman · 1743 – 1826
Thomas Jefferson
Little-Known Facts
- He wrote his own epitaph, listing the Declaration, the religious-freedom statute and the university — but not the presidency.
- He died on 4 July 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration, hours before John Adams.
Myths & Misconceptions
Was writing Jefferson's main occupation?
No — he was a statesman, diplomat and president, but he was also a tireless writer, authoring the Declaration, a major book and thousands of letters.