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The third of ten children, Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743 at the family home in Shadwell, Virginia. His father was Peter Jefferson and his mother was Jane Randolph.
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When Jefferson was 22, his oldest sister Jane died at the age of 25 where it affected him and he fell into depression.
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Jefferson married the 23-year-old widow Martha Wayles Skelton.
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During June 1776, the month before the signing, Jefferson took notes of the Congressional debates over the proposed Declaration in order to include such sentiments in his draft, among other things justifying the right of citizens to resort to revolution.
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On July 4, 1776, Congress ratified the Declaration of Independence and distributed the document.
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A few months after the birth of her last child, Martha died on September 6, 1782.
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Beginning in early September 1785, Jefferson collaborated with John Adams, US minister in London, to outline an anti-piracy treaty with Morocco. Their work culminated in a treaty that was ratified by Congress on July 18, 1787.
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In September 1789 Jefferson returned to the US from France with his two daughters and slaves. Immediately upon his return, President Washington wrote to him asking him to accept a seat in his Cabinet as Secretary of State.
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He died in July 4, 1826.
