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04-13-2017, 09:35 AM
Jefferson (jčf´er-sen), Thomas
1743-1826
The third President of the United States (1801-1809). A member of the second Continental Congress, he drafted the Declaration of Independence (1776). His presidency was marked by the purchase of the Louisiana Territory from France (1803) and the Tripolitan War (1801-1805). A political philosopher, educator, and architect, Jefferson designed his own estate, Monticello, and buildings for the University of Virginia.

Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition © 1996 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Electronic version licensed from INSO Corporation; further reproduction and distribution in accordance with the Copyright Law of the United States. All rights reserved.


Thomas Jefferson wrote the rough draft of the DOI; John Adams and Ben Franklin were the editors.
Jefferson originally wrote:
"We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable ..." Jefferson

Franklin expresses his reservation about that phrasing to Jefferson. Franklin explained; we're founding a new country. It's not based on assertions of religion. It's based on assertions of reason. We should reflect that religious tolerance in this writing.

source: Walter Isaacson: author of: Benjamin Franklin: An American Life
Thomas Jefferson's private library was reportedly the largest collection of books in the United States.