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Birth of Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was born in Shadwell, Virginia. His parents are Jane Randolph and Peter Jefferson. -
Death of Peter Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson's father, Peter Jefferson, dies leaving his son his land. Jefferson becomes the head of the Jefferson household. He is only 14 years old. -
Thomas starts college
The date is uncertain, but in the year 1760, Thomas Jefferson begins studying at the College of William and Mary. He will graduate in 1762. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act is issued, causing the New England colonies to resist. Thomas Jefferson is very active in the Revolution against Britain. -
Virginia House of Burgesses
Thomas Jefferson is elected to represent Albermarle county in the Virginia House of Burgesses. He soon allies himself with the young radical fraction, led by George Washingotn and Patrick Hensey. He also at this time begins building his home in Monticello. -
Married Martha Skelton
Thomas Jefferson marries Martha Wayles Skelton, who is five years younger than him. Up to this time, her parents would not let her marry her true love because he was not finacilaly stable. She had been widowed with a child when they married. -
Martha Jefferson is Born
Named after her mother, Thomas Jefferson's first child, a baby girl is born at Monticello. She was nicknamed "Pasty" for her pale skin. -
Death of Thomas Jefferson's Father-in-Law
Thomas Jefferson's wife, Martha's father passes away at the age of 58. He, John Wayles, left the Jefferson's about 5000 acres of land, over 100 slaves, and a lot of debts. Jefferson will take years to to pay off the debt. -
Birth of Jane Randolph
Thomas Jefferson's second daughter is born, but she dies a year later. -
A Summary View of the Rights of British America
A Summary View of the Rights of British America is written by Thomas Jefferson to instruct the Virginia delegates in the First Continental Congress. It earns him respect and fame amongst the colonial politicians, and helped his reputation grow. It is about his response to the Boston Tea Party and the wrongs that King George has done the colonies. -
Jefferson enters Congress
Jefferson replaces his cousin, Peyton Randolph, as a Virginia delegate in the Second Continental Congress in Philidelphia. -
Thomas' mother dies
Only a few months before Thomas Jefferson begins drafting the Declaration of Independence, his mother, Jane Randolph Jefferson passes away. They weren't very close at all, but she was buried in Monticello. -
Drafting of Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Robert R. Livingston, Roger Sherman, and John Adams are chosen to draft the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson writes the final draft, while John Adams and Ben Franklin help edit it, and the other two do nothing with the actual document. -
Declaration of Independence
The final draft of the Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson is approved by congress, signed, and published all over the United States. It is the U.S's first official document. -
Jefferson returns to Virginia
Jefferson leaves Congress to become one of the Virginia House of Delegate's Representitives, and starts working on a reform of the Virginia Legal Code. -
Birth of 3rd child
Thomas Jefferson and his wife have another son, but the un-named baby died only three weeks after its birth. -
Jefferson writes Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
One of Jefferson's greatest achievements was writing this Statute. It gave Virginians a separation of church and state, however it didn't pass until 1786, thanks to James Maddison. It was listed on his tombstone as one of his three greatest accomplishments. He was extremely proud of it. -
Birth of Mary Jefferson
Martha and Thomas Jefferson's fourth child, Mary or Maria, known as Polly until her adult years, is born. -
Jefferson becomes Governor of Virginia
Thomas Jefferson is elected to be the second Governor of Virginia. -
Birth of Lucy Elizabeth Jefferson
The Jefferson's fifth child, named Lucy Elizabeth is born, however she dies before reaching the age of two. -
British Invasion of Virginia
When the British arrmies invaded Virginia, Jefferson had to evacuate the state government. -
Jefferson Resigns from Governor
After his second governor's term, Jefferson stepped down and left. -
Notes on the State of Virginia
Jefferson begins to write a book, Notes on the State of Virginia, due to a questionare he had gotten while he was Governer of Virginia. It was published in 1785. -
Birth of Lucy Elizabeth
The sixth and last child of Thomas Jefferson and Martha Skelton Jefferson is born, named after her dead sister. This Lucy dies three years after she was born. -
Jefferson's wife dies
After giving birth to Lucy Elizabeth, Martha Skelton Jefferson passes away, leaving her husband in pieces. She made him promise never to remarry before her death, a promise he kept till the day he died. She was buried in the Monticello graveyard. -
Confederation Congress
After his wife's death, Thomas Jefferson went to the Continental Congress to be a Virginian Representative. He drafted reports that shaped how the U.S settled the West in 1784 called the Northwest Ordinances. -
Jefferson in Europe
Jefferson travels to Europe with John Adams and Ben Franklin to represent the US in commercial treaties and to arrange for US wartime debt loans. -
Jefferson becomes Plenipotentiary
Benjamin Franklin retires as Amarica's Ambassador to France called a Plenipotentiary. Jefferson takes over that position. -
Polly and Sally arrive in France
Jeffersons daughter, Polly, and one of their slaves, Sally Hemmings, arrive in France. There is speculation that Jeffersons relationship with Hemmings started at this time. -
French Revolution
Jefferson supports a moderate faction in the revolution and helps draft the "Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen". It is published August 26, 1789. -
Return to America
Jefferson returns to the US and a letter from George Washington informs him that he is the new Secretary of State. -
Secretary of State
Jefferson moves to the capital, New York, and assumes his post as the first Secretary of State. -
Establishing the new capital
Jefferson brokers a deal between Alexander Hamilton, the Secretary of the Treasury, and James Madison, the most powerful congressman to allow the federal government to assume state debts and in exchange they agree to creat a new capital along the Patomac River which would become Washington, D.C. -
Clash with Hamilton
Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton clash, in the first of many disagreements, over the creaation of the US National Bank. -
Jefferson tries to resign
The war between Britain and France splits US Federalist and Republicans. Jefferson, a Republican, supports France while Hamilton, a Federalist, supports Britain. Jefferson eventually resigns and returns to Monticello. However, unknown to Jefferson, Madison begins a campaign for Jefferson as President in 1796. -
Election of 1796
The first contested election in the United States pits Federalist John Adams against Republican Thomas Jefferson. Adams wins by just 3 votes in the Electoral College. -
Vice Presidency
As runner-up in the Presidential election, Jefferson becomes the Vice President to John Adams. Elections are no longer held this way. He also authors a "Manual of Parliamentary Procedure" which is used for Senate procedures. -
Revolution of 1800
In a rematch of the 1796 election, Jefferson defeats Adams as infighting in the Fedralist party led to them having split loyalties. Republicans sweep the election, but Jefferson and Burr tied in the Electoral College and the election was then decided by the House of Representatives. This later resulted in the passing of the 12th Amendment which required the Electoral College to vote for President and Vice President separately. -
Midnight Judges
The lame duck Federalists pass the Judiciary Act, which puts many Federalist judges in the courts. Jefferson spends much of his Presidency fighting the Federalists in court matters. -
Inauguration
Jefferson is sworn in as the 3rd President of the US in the new capital established in Washington, D.C. His ianuaguration is considered his first formal public speech despite a lifetime in public service. -
Louisiana Purchase
Jefferson purchases 800,000 square mile Louisiana Territory from French Emperor Napolean Bonparte for $15 million, which doubled the size of the United States. -
Lewis and Clark Expedition
Jefferson charters the Lewis and Clark Expedition, which was led by his Secretary, Meriwether Lewis, to survey the newly purchased Louisiana Territory, establish relations with the Indian tribes, and search for a Northwest Passage. -
Daughter Mary dies
Jeffersons daughter dies during childbirth at the age of 25, which caused Jefferson to fall into a deep depression. -
Second Inaugural
Jefferson is inaugurated into a second term as President following a landslide victory in the election of 1804. This inaugural address is regarded as the last speech he ever gave. -
Retirement
Jefferson finishes his second term as President and the returns to his home in Monticello to retire. -
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Correspondance with John Adams
The two old rivals reconnect and begin writing each other regularly until their deaths, on the same day in 1826. -
Library of Congress
Following the burning of the previous Library of Congress ,which Jefferson had established during his Presidency, Jefferson sells the US his 6,000 book library for $24,000 which they use to re-establish the library and pay off his debts. -
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Establishing the University of Virginia
Jefferson urges the Virginia Legislature to commision a study to open a university in Virginia. they later pass a acharter establishing the university which he convinces them to locate in Charlottesville, Va. -
University of Virginia
Jefferson oversses the opening of the University of Virginia near Monticello with the Virginia Legislature's funding. He designed the campus, hired the faculty and wrote the syllabi. -
Jefferson Dies
Jefferson dies on his bed at his some in Monticello, on the same day as John Adams. Ironically he died on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
