After a lifetime of service to his state and his country, Thomas Jefferson retired to Monticello where he devoted the remainder of his life to his studies and his grandchildren. It is said his most favorite pastime was spending the evening on the lawn watching his grandchildren conduct foot races. He would laugh so hard and truly enjoy every moment. This is a glimpse of the private man after his public life.

Jefferson worked continually on his gardens and acres of crops. He grew more peach and apple trees than anything else. Of all the vegetables he grew, peas were his favorites. Jefferson also loved his horses and continued riding daily up to the time of his death.

When the British burned the Capitol in 1814, Jefferson sold his entire personal library, some 6,000 titles, to the Library of Congress for close to $24,000. While this amazing collection of knowledge formed the cornerstone of the Library's holdings, nearly two-thirds of Jefferson's books were burned by another fire shortly before the Civil War.

Committed to the ideals of an educated democracy, Jefferson founded the University of Virginia in 1819. He not only designed the buildings, he selected the faculty and wrote the curriculum.

Jefferson loved to write. There are over 28,000 letters we still have today that give us an insight into his life. One of the great stories of Jefferson's life was his relationship with John Adams. The man who once selected Jefferson to write the declaration of Independence had become a strong opponent as the business of our nation brought out differences and disagreements. In fact, before leaving office, Adams filled a number of government offices with appointees who would not agree with Jefferson's ideas. This, Jefferson would later remark, was the one instance where Mr. Adams truly caused him discomfort.

As the years went by, Jefferson and Adams once again found common ground. They eventually became fast friends. In fact, when Adams died on July 4, 1826, his last consolation was his belief that Jefferson lived to watch over the young republic. Jefferson, likewise, passed away the same day in the belief that Mr. Adams would survive him. Fifty years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson passed away quietly on his bed in his beloved home.

Of the many amazing men we refer to as our founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson stands as a giant in his own right. His image is carved in the Black Hills of South Dakota on Mount Rushmore, completed in 1936. The Jefferson Memorial at the tidal basin in Washington, D.C. sits peacefully among the cherry blossoms as a testament to his unique place in American history. We are proud to be citizens of Virginia, and proud to claim Thomas Jefferson as part of our history.

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LATER YEAR'S LINKS

An Autobiography

The Life of Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson Online

Interpreting Thomas Jefferson

Click here for a wordfind puzzle on T.J.'s Later Years

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