We talk about him all the time; we know him as "Mr. Jefferson," "TJ" or sometimes, "Tom." Yet, how much do we really know about the founder of our University?
There are many generalizations that people associate with the third president of our nation, but they are exactly that -- generalizations.
In order to truly get to know Thomas Jefferson, we should try to get to know him on a deeper, more personal level.
So let's take a closer look at our founder in a form that displays who he really is -- a résumé.
Thomas Jefferson
Marital Status:
Married to Martha Wayles Skelton. Two surviving children.
Education:
Graduated from the College of William & Mary, Philosophy, 1762.
Work Experience:
Lawyer, Planter, Politician.
Governor of Virginia, 1779-81.
Minister to France, 1785-89.
Secretary of State, 1790-93.
Vice President, 1797-1801.
Important Accomplishments:
Member of committee of five to write the Declaration of Independence, 1776.
Revised the Virginia criminal code, enacted in 1796.
Wrote Statute of Religious Freedoms, made Virginia the first state to allow for complete religious liberty, 1779.
Witnessed beginning of the French Revolution while serving as Minister to France, 1786.
Built the University of Virginia as the hobby of his old age, 1819.
Hobbies/Interests:
Farming, Horseback riding, Architecture, Invention, Eating peas (favorite food).
Quotes and Beliefs:
On government (related to his reasoning behind creating a Board of Visitors to govern the University):
"A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where 51 percent of the people may take away the rights of the other 49."
The McIntire School of Commerce would be proud:
"Commerce with all nations, alliance with none, should be our motto."
On personal behavior:
"Do not bite at the bait of pleasure, till you know there is no hook beneath it."
On the need for education:
"I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."
On student self-governance:
"Every generation needs a new revolution."
On the purpose of his University:
"I hope [the University of Virginia] will prove a blessing to my own state, and not unuseful perhaps to some others."
Skills/Unique Traits:
-- First President to be inaugurated in Washington, D.C.
-- Owned one of the largest collections of books -- sold 6,000 of them to help start the Library of Congress.
-- Invented the pedometer, letter-copier, and lazy susan.
-- Able to play the violin.
-- Courage -- ate a tomato in public once to prove that it was not poisonous.
Hopefully, this résumé will spark many more conversations about our founder. Truly, after looking at a résumé like that, it's hard not to talk about Thomas Jefferson.
And, perhaps it will help us to realize why it is that we talk about Jefferson so much. Indeed, he is very much a reflection of who the student body of the University is today: unique, diverse, controversial and bound to leave a lasting legacy.
Maryann's column runs bi-weekly on Tuesdays. She can be reached at maryann@cavalierdaily.com.
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