Jefferson Timeline By jecybuski May 7, 1735 Peter Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson's father, patented 1,000-acre tract which became Monticello. May 7, 1743 Thomas Jefferson born at Shadwell. May 7, 1760 Thomas Jefferson attended the College of William and Mary. (1760 - 1762) May 7, 1768 Elected to House of Burgesses. May 7, 1772 Married Martha Wayles Skelton. May 7, 1774 Wrote A Summary View of the Rights of British America. May 7, 1775 Elected to Continental Congress. May 7, 1776 Drafted Declaration of Independence. Elected to Virginia House of Delegates. Appointed to revise Virginia laws. May 7, 1783 Elected delegate to Congress. May 7, 1790 Served as first United States Secretary of State. (1790 - 1793) May 7, 1797 Served as United States Vice President. (1797 - 1801) May 7, 1801 Served as United States President. (1801 - 1809) May 7, 1803 Louisiana Purchase concluded. Lewis and Clark expedition launched. May 7, 1825 University of Virginia opened. Jul 4, 1826 Died at Monticello, July 4.