On April 13, 1743, Thomas Jefferson was born in Virginia. He would later become the principal author of the Declaration of Independence and the third president of the United States. Jefferson promoted ideas of liberty, republican government, and religious freedom. At the same time, he was a slaveholder, and this contradiction has shaped debates about his legacy. As president, he oversaw the Louisiana Purchase and sponsored the Lewis and Clark expedition. His influence on American political thought and institutions remains strong, even as scholars continue to reassess his life and beliefs.
