About Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) was an American statesman, diplomat, and Founding Father who served as the third President of the United States from 1801 to 1809. He is best known for drafting the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and for his role in expanding the United States through the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. A proponent of individual liberty and democracy, Jefferson's legacy also includes his contributions to the establishment of the University of Virginia and his advocacy for religious freedom and separation of church and state.