Happy National Thomas Jefferson Day! On April 13, each year, this day honors the birth of the 3rd U.S. President, who was born April 13, 1743.
Most known as the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson was a stalwart of democracy. While not much an orator, his pen cut quite a swath of ink through correspondence, documents, journals, and manuscripts.
Those who write, tend to read. Jefferson was no different. His vast library contained 6,500 volumes!
“I cannot live without books.” Thomas Jefferson, June 10, 1815
Jefferson was not only a lawyer, but he was also a scientist of agriculture, paleontology, and astronomy. Immensely curious, he kept detailed records of the weather and eventually established weather observers across his home state of Virginia.
Jefferson served as minister to France, Secretary of State in 1st U.S. President George Washington’s Cabinet and ran for president for the first time in 1796.
However, he was only to be elected Vice President to his opponent, 2nd U.S. President John Adams, due to a flaw in the U.S. Constitution.
Four years later the same fault in the document caused a tie within the same party between American politician and lawyer Aaron Burr, and Jefferson with Jefferson assuming the presidency.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Learn more about Thomas Jefferson. Read one of his many books or books written about him. We’ve selected a few for you to choose from.
• Autobiography of Thomas Jefferson by Thomas Jefferson (1821)- • Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power by Jon Meacham (2012)
- • Friends Divided: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson by Gordon S. Wood (2017)
Take a tour of Monticello or learn more by watching a documentary.
Use #NationalThomasJeffersonDay to post on social media.
HISTORY
By Presidential Proclamation 2276 on March 21, 1938, 32nd U.S. Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed April 13 as a day to celebrate the birth of Thomas Jefferson.
Then again on April 11, 2007, 43rd U.S. President George W. Bush proclaimed National Thomas Jefferson Day to commemorate his birth with Presidential Proclamation 8124.
Presidential Proclamation 2276, of Mar 21, 1938, covers all succeeding years. (Pub Res No 60 of Aug 16, 1937.)
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