Happy Birthday, Thomas Jefferson, 13 April 1743

[Blackleaf99]

Thomas Jefferson (1743 - 1826)

• Primary author of the US Declaration of Independence
• 3rd President of the United States
• 1st Secretary of State of the United States
• Organized the Louisiana Purchase
• Organized the Lewis and Clark expedition
• Inventor
• Recipient of several honorary Doctor of Law degrees
• Memorialized as one quarter of the Mount Rushmore monument

Resolved the Barbary Coast problems, 1784
From which we acquired his quotation, "Millions for defense but not one cent for tribute".

Supported small industry
Thomas Jefferson wrote in a letter, “In our private pursuits it is a great advantage that every honest employment is deemed honorable. I am myself a nail maker.” Small nail manufacturing was a cottage industry during our nation's early days.

Some other quotations from T. Jefferson to reveal his true thoughts about US civilization - -

"Were we to be directed from Washington when to sow and when to reap, we should soon want bread."

"Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not."

"The remedy for evil men is not the abrogation of the rights of law abiding citizens. The remedy for evil men is the gallows."

"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have. "

 

[Incongruent]

Isn't it tomorrow, the 13th? (Maybe it's just a typo in your title.)

Also he stole the ideas for the Declaration from John Locke.


Wait, are we supposed to celebrate him?

Well, he opposed slavery (but worried of the damaging effects free slaves might have, so didn't free his own).
His nail making, as you mentioned, was very profitable. And involved child slaves.
He opposed the National Bank and strong national government in general.
He had decent handwriting.
Among many other things.

www.monticello.org is a good place for further reading.

One of the pages includes his recipe for ice cream which he served at his lavish parties. He also had a marveolus system of hiding slavery including rotating doors and the dumb waiter in the fireplace. One slave stayed out, Burwell Colbert, as a waiter or servant. (I forget)