Thomas Jefferson — The Sage of Monticello
By Inez Nellie Canfield McFee in 1913
"The policy of the American government is to leave their citizens free, neither restraining nor aiding them in their pursuits." – Thomas Jefferson
On a crisp April day, the 13th in the year 1743, a momentous event unfolded within the walls of a modest farmhouse nestled in the heart of Central Virginia’s rolling mountains. A son was born, a child destined to leave an indelible mark of genius and unique personality upon the very fabric of the nascent nation. His father, Peter Jefferson, a man of Welsh descent, was a surveyor of the untamed backwoods, a figure of remarkable stature and physical strength. He christened his newborn son Thomas, unknowingly setting the stage for a life that would shape the course of American history.
Peter Jefferson, a man of considerable means for his time, held dominion over a sprawling estate encompassing nearly 2,000 acres, a fertile expanse dedicated to the cultivation of wheat and tobacco. His prosperity was intertwined with the institution of slavery, as he owned approximately 30 enslaved individuals. Peter was known as a stern figure, yet tempered with kindness and a strong sense of justice. A guiding principle he imparted was, "Never ask another to do for you what you can do yourself," a philosophy that resonated deeply with young Thomas. The untimely death of Peter when Thomas was only 14 years old left a void, yet his memory was forever etched in his son’s heart, revered with pride and respect.
From his earliest years, young Thomas demonstrated an extraordinary intellect. He inherited his mother’s gentle and contemplative nature, along with her profound appreciation for music and the wonders of the natural world. Thomas was also drawn to the world of books and academic pursuits, devouring knowledge with an insatiable appetite. His love for nature, however, prevented him from becoming overly studious. He was a keen hunter, a skilled horseman, and, much like George Washington, found solace and recreation in outdoor sports.
The Jefferson household was a bustling hub of activity, home to ten children, with Thomas being the third. He shared a particularly close bond with his elder sister, Jane. Their companionship was unwavering, and she played a pivotal role in shaping and refining his character. Her early demise at the tender age of 25 was a source of enduring sorrow for Jefferson throughout his long and distinguished life.
At the age of seventeen, young Jefferson embarked on his collegiate journey at William and Mary College. Initially, he was described as one of the "gawkiest" students of the session, an observation that belied his true potential. However, his inherent worth soon became apparent to both professors and fellow students. Dr. Small, a Scottish professor of mathematics, recognized Jefferson’s exceptional abilities and exerted a profound and beneficial influence on his character, nurturing his intellectual growth and shaping his worldview.
Among Jefferson’s early companions was a jovial young man known for his "mimicry, practical jokes, fiddling, and dancing." His name, like Jefferson’s, would later be indelibly etched upon the annals of American history. Every schoolchild knows the name – Patrick Henry. The two shared a camaraderie, engaging in youthful sports and lighthearted pursuits.
Shortly after Jefferson’s matriculation at college, Patrick Henry paid him a visit, brimming with the news that he had been studying law and had come to Williamsburg to obtain a license to practice. Jefferson, intrigued, questioned him extensively. When he discovered that Henry had, in reality, only studied law for a mere six weeks, he harbored doubts about the outcome. However, to Jefferson’s surprise, Henry secured his license, demonstrating an innate ability to navigate the legal landscape.
Some time later, when Jefferson himself was immersed in the study of law and young Henry served as a member of the House of Burgesses, which convened in Williamsburg, tensions between the King and the colonies reached a critical juncture with the introduction of the Stamp Act.
Henry, convinced that rebellion was the only course of action, drafted his renowned set of Five Resolutions and entered the assembly chamber prepared to make his case. It is possible that he shared a hint of his intentions with his young friend, who was hosting him as a guest. Regardless, young Jefferson watched him with rapt attention. Suddenly, he witnessed his friend rise to his full height, his gaze sweeping across the entire audience with a conqueror’s intensity. Then, in a voice rich, full, and resonant, he delivered an impassioned plea for the people’s liberties. In the midst of his oration, his voice suddenly pierced the air with electric force:
"Caesar had his Brutus, Charles the First his Cromwell, and George the Third –" He paused, and the house erupted in an uproar. The Speaker and numerous members leaped to their feet, shouting, "Treason! Treason!" They feared that he was about to threaten the overthrow of George III, who was King of England and the colonies. But young Henry remained unfazed. He looked the Speaker directly in the eye and, with a dramatic gesture, added in a tone that resonated with all present, "May profit by their example. If that be treason, make the most of it."
Young Jefferson never forgot the scene. He listened intently to the ensuing heated debate. The "torrents of sublime eloquence" that flowed from Patrick Henry’s lips captivated him, igniting a fervent sense of patriotism within his young heart. He resolved to dedicate himself to serving his country and, to that end, intensified his academic endeavors, sometimes spending 15 hours a day poring over his books. As a result, he soon became the most accomplished scholar in America. He excelled in mathematics and possessed a working knowledge of five languages in addition to his native tongue. This is the early life of Thomas Jefferson, the sage of Monticello.
However, Thomas Jefferson was first and foremost a farmer. He once declared, "No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, and no culture comparable to that of the garden." This statement encapsulates his deep connection to the land and his profound appreciation for the natural world.
He marked his coming of age by planting a beautiful avenue of trees near his house, which he had built upon a high hill and christened "Monticello," meaning "little mountain" in Italian. He reveled in experimentation, importing a diverse array of trees and shrubs to adorn his grounds, creating a landscape of unparalleled beauty.
It is said that "his interests were wide and intense," but his unwavering zeal for education stood out above all else. In his epitaph, which he penned himself, Thomas Jefferson made no mention of his governorship of Virginia, his ambassadorship to France, his tenure as Secretary of State, his vice-presidency, or his presidency of the United States. Instead, he modestly listed the three achievements that he believed had earned him his most enduring claim to fame: authorship of the Declaration of Independence, authorship of the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom, and father of the University of Virginia.
All of these accomplishments were rooted in the concept of freedom. "Free government; free faith; free thought," wrote Ellis in his biography, "these were the treasures which Thomas Jefferson bequeathed to his country and his State; and who, it may well be asked, has ever left a nobler legacy to mankind?"
Jefferson was a member of the convention that convened in Richmond in March 1775 to determine Virginia’s role in the impending war. He wholeheartedly embraced the words of his friend, Henry, when that "Demosthenes of the woods" electrified his audience with the stirring cry: "Gentlemen may cry, ‘Peace, peace!’ but there is no peace! The war has actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the North will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field. Why stand we here idle? What is it the gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"
When George Washington was chosen as commander-in-chief, Jefferson assumed his vacated seat in Congress. He quickly established himself as an influential member, renowned for his efficiency and clarity of thought in committee work. His insightful understanding of complex situations and his ability to connect with his fellow countrymen made him an invaluable asset. He was perceptive, wise, and prudent; an aristocrat by birth, but a democrat by nature. He held little regard for pomp and ceremony and disdained titles and the trappings of rank. While not a gifted orator, his pen possessed remarkable power.
Jefferson’s enduring legacy is largely attributed to his authorship of the Declaration of Independence, a document that has resonated through the ages. In June 1776, he was appointed to a committee of five, tasked with drafting such a declaration. The other members were Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston. Providence seemed to dictate that the majority of the writing should fall to Jefferson, for no one else could have articulated the ideals of freedom and self-governance with such eloquence and inspiration. The achievement was deeply cherished by him, as evidenced by his instructions that these words be inscribed upon the granite obelisk at his grave: "Here lies buried Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence." This alone was glory enough for one man.
On New Year’s Day, 1772, Thomas Jefferson married Mrs. Martha Wayles Skelton, a beautiful, childless young widow. Their life together was marked by profound happiness; Jefferson was an exemplary husband and father, and his wife was "one of the truest wives with which any man was ever blessed of heaven." Sadly, she passed away shortly after the close of the Revolution. They had six children, but only two – Martha and Mary – lived to reach adulthood.
Jefferson approached life through the lens of a philosopher. He adhered to ten rules that he considered essential for a practical and fulfilling existence:
1 – Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
2 – Never trouble another for what you can do yourself.
3 – Never spend your money before you have it.
4 – Never buy what you do not want, because it is cheap: it will be dear to you.
5 – Pride costs us more than hunger, thirst, or cold.
6 – We never repent of having eaten too little.
7 – Nothing is troublesome that we do willingly.
8 – How much pain has cost us the evils which have never happened!
9 – Take things always by their smooth handle.
10-When angry count ten before you speak; if very angry, a hundred.
It goes without saying that he adhered to these principles diligently.
Jefferson was widely admired for his fairness and impartiality. He had countless friends, and he entertained them with such generosity that, in his later years, he faced financial difficulties and had to mortgage his estate.
Jefferson abhorred slavery, viewing it as a grave moral and political transgression. He once lamented, "I tremble for my country when I remember that God is just." He treated the enslaved people on his vast estate with such kindness that they held him in near reverence. It is said that upon his return from his five-year stint as Minister to France, his enslaved workers were so overjoyed that they lifted him from his carriage and carried him into the house, expressing their joy with laughter and tears because "massa done got home again."
When George Washington assumed the presidency, he appointed Jefferson as Secretary of State. This placed him in direct conflict with Alexander Hamilton, the Secretary of the Treasury. The two men were fundamentally different and clashed constantly. It required all of Washington’s diplomatic skills to maintain peace between them. "Each found the other so intolerable that he wished to resign that he might be freed from meeting him." Finally, Jefferson could no longer endure the conflict. He resigned in January 1794 and returned to his beloved farming at Monticello.
Two years later, he and John Adams were the candidates for the presidency. Adams received 71 votes, and Jefferson received 68. Under the existing laws, this made him Vice-President. Adams was a Federalist, and Jefferson was a Republican, making disagreements inevitable. Adams, however, did not attempt to bridge the divide, ignoring Jefferson in all political matters. In the subsequent election, Jefferson and Adams once again ran for president, and Jefferson emerged victorious. The irascible Adams was so incensed by the outcome that he departed for Massachusetts in his coach at daybreak on the day of the inauguration, refusing to witness his successor’s installation in office. In later years, however, he regretted his actions. He and Jefferson reconciled and maintained a friendly correspondence until the end of their lives.
As President, Jefferson was widely beloved. His inauguration was celebrated as a national holiday throughout the country. This, of course, was distasteful to Jefferson, who detested pomp and ceremony. A story recounts that he rode to the Capitol on horseback and hitched his horse to the fence while he went inside, unattended, to take the oath of office.
Whether true or not, it is known that during his time in office, Jefferson eschewed all displays of grandeur and refused to accept any honors that would not have been bestowed upon him as a private citizen.
Jefferson selected James Madison, his closest friend at the time, as his Secretary of State. The cabinet was composed of like-minded individuals, creating a harmonious working environment throughout Jefferson’s two terms in office. His administration was marked by numerous significant national events, the most prominent being the Louisiana Purchase from France in 1803 for fifteen million dollars. Eleven entire states and portions of four others were eventually carved from this vast territory.
Jefferson retired from public life at the end of his second term. "From that time," observed Daniel Webster, "Mr. Jefferson lived as becomes a wise man. Surrounded by affectionate friends, his ardor in the pursuit of knowledge undiminished; with uncommon health and unbroken spirits, he was able to enjoy largely the rational pleasures of life; and to partake of that public prosperity to which he had contributed so much. His kindness and hospitality; the charm of his conversation; the ease of his manners; and especially the full store of revolutionary incidents he possessed, and which he knew when and how to dispense, rendered his abode attractive in a high degree to his admiring countrymen. His high public and scientific character drew toward him every intelligent and educated traveler from abroad." Thomas Jefferson was indeed an exceptional man.
"The Sage of Monticello" passed away on the afternoon of July 4, 1826. A few hours later, John Adams also breathed his last. Thus, on the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the two men who had played the most pivotal roles in its creation departed from this world. "Their country is their monument; its independence their epitaph."
By Inez Nellie Canfield McFee, 1913. Compiled and edited by Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, updated January 2023.
About the Author: This article on Thomas Jefferson was written by Inez Nellie Canfield McFee in 1913 and included in her book American Heroes From History. McFee also authored several other books on American History, poetry, birds, and more. The article as it appears here, however, is not verbatim as it has been edited.