Presidents in Retirement: Thomas Jefferson
George Washington concluded that two terms in office as President was as much as any man should have. John Adams never had the chance to test that theory. In December 1807, Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, announced that he too would limit his presidency to two terms. He would not seek a third term in office. As his presidency wound down, he began to focus his attention on his home in Monticello. He turned the running of the ship of state over to his two leading cabinet members: his Secretary of State James Madison and his Treasury Secretary Albert Gallatin. One of his last acts in office occured in March 1809, just prior to his successor's inauguration, when he signed the repeal of the controversial Embargo. In its place, the Non-Intercourse Act was passed, but it proved no more effective in the goal of such legislation, that being to punish the British for their impressment of American ships by cutting off trade with them. The day before Madison was inaugurated as his successor, Jefferson is quoted as saying that he felt like "a prisoner, released from his chains".
Following his retirement from the presidency, Jefferson continued his pursuit of academic and educational subjects and interests. However he was in need of money, as in those days the presidency left its office holders much poorer from the experience. Jefferson sold his vast collection of books to the Library of Congress. He focused on education in his home state by being a leader in the foundation of the University of Virginia.
While out of office, Jefferson continued to keep an eye on national affairs and to correspond with many of the country's leaders. It is believed that he gave advice to Madison and his Secretary of State James Monroe in the creation of the Monroe Doctrine. He got into a settled routine at Monticello of rising early, spending several hours writing letters in the morning,and at midday, he would inspect the plantation on horseback. In the evenings, his family enjoyed leisure time in the gardens before Jefferson would retire to bed with a book. His routine was often interrupted by uninvited and unexpected visitors and tourists.
The University of Virginia was one of Jefferson's proudest accomplishments. He had imagined a university free of church influences, one at which the students could specialize in many new areas not offered at other colleges. He believed that education contributed to a stable society. He believed that publicly funded schools should be accessible to students from all levels of society, provided that they earned their place based on ability. He initially proposed his University in a letter to Joseph Priestley in 1800. In 1819, when Jefferson was 76, the University of Virginia was organized. Jefferson led the state legislative campaign for its charter and, with the assistance of Edmund Bacon, he purchased the location. He was the principal designer of the buildings, planned the university's curriculum, and served as the first rector when its doors opened in 1825, the year before his death.
Jefferson was a student of architecture and admired Greek and Roman architectural styles. He associated this type of building with American democracy. Each academic unit, called a pavilion, was designed by him with a two-story temple front. The library's "Rotunda" was modeled on the Roman Pantheon. Jefferson called the university's grounds the "Academical Village". It was copmposed of ten pavilions which included classrooms and faculty residences. They formed a quadrangle and were connected by colonnades. Behind these were the students' rows of rooms. Gardens and vegetable plots were placed behind the pavilions and were surrounded by serpentine walls. The university had a library rather than a church at its center, in keeping with Jefferson's belief that the school should emphasize its secular nature. Many of his contemporary Virginians did not agree with this decision. When Jefferson died in 1826, James Madison replaced him as rector. Jefferson bequeathed most of his library to the university.
Jefferson and John Adams had been good friends at the start of their political careers, serving together in the Continental Congress in the 1770s and in Europe in the 1780s. They were on opposite sides in the Federalist/Republican split of the 1790s and Adams felt betrayed by Jefferson's sponsorship of partisan attacks, such as those leveled by newspaper editor James Callender. Jefferson was upset with Adams for his appointment of "midnight judges", Federalists who were appointed to judicial offices by Adams after Adams' defeat in the election of 1800. The two men did not communicate directly for more than a decade after Jefferson succeeded Adams as president and Adams did not even attend Jefferson's inauguration. A brief correspondence took place between Abigail Adams and Jefferson after Jefferson's daughter "Polly" died in 1804. Unknown to her husband, it was her attempt at reconciliation between the two former friends. It was unsuccessful and soon the two were once again attacking one another in their correspondence.
Benjamin Rush, a physician who had been a signer of the Declaration of Independence, hoped that Jefferson and Adams reconcile. He was on good terms with both men and he began to try to nudge the two through correspondence to re-establish contact. In 1812, Adams wrote a short New Year's greeting to Jefferson, prompted by Rush. Jefferson warmly responded. Thus began what historian David McCullough has called "one of the most extraordinary correspondences in American history". Over the next fourteen years, the former presidents exchanged 158 letters discussing their political differences, justifying their respective roles in events, and discussing how the revolution had changed the world. When Adams died, his last words were said to be an acknowledgement of his longtime friend and rival, when he uttered the words "Thomas Jefferson survives", unaware that Jefferson had died several hours earlier.
In 1821, at the age of 77 Jefferson began writing his autobiography. He described its purpose as being to "state some recollections of dates and facts concerning myself". The narrative only goes up to July 29, 1790. He did not discuss his youth, and focused mainly on the revolutionary war era. He wrote that his ancestors came from Wales to America in the early 17th century and settled in the western frontier of the Virginia colony. He attributed this to his strong belief in individual and state rights. Jefferson described his father as uneducated, but as someone possessed of a "strong mind and sound judgement". He also wrote about his time at the College of William and Mary and his election to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia in 1775. The book discusses how the Declaration of Independence as well a reforms that affected the government of Virginia. In the book Jefferson quotes from notes, letters, and documents to supplement many of its stories.
In the summer of 1824, the Marquis de Lafayette accepted an invitation from President James Monroe to visit the United States. It afforded Jefferson the opportunity to meet with Lafayette again. The two had not seen each other since 1789. After visits to New York, New England, and Washington, Lafayette arrived at Monticello on November 4, 1824. Jefferson's grandson Randolph was present for the reunion of the two men. He wrote: "As they approached each other, their uncertain gait quickened itself into a shuffling run, and exclaiming, 'Ah Jefferson!' 'Ah Lafayette!', they burst into tears as they fell into each other's arms." They retired to the house to reminisce about the old days. The next morning Jefferson, Lafayette, and James Madison attended a tour and banquet at the University of Virginia. Jefferson had someone else read a speech he had prepared for Lafayette because his voice was too weak. This was his last public address. After an 11-day visit, Lafayette left Monticello.
Just before his death, Jefferson debt had grown to approximately $100,000. He realized that he would have nothing to leave to his heirs. In February 1826, he received permission from the General Assembly to hold a public lottery as a fund raiser. By this point in time, his health began to deteriorate, due to a combination of rheumatism from arm and wrist injuries, as well as intestinal and urinary tract disorders. By June 1826, he was confined to bed. On July 3, Jefferson was suffering from an intense fever that prevented him from attending an invitation to Washington to attend a 50th anniversary celebration of the Declaration of Independence. These would be the last hours of his life. As death approached, he was surrounded by family members and friends.
On July 4, 1826, at 12:50 p.m., Jefferson died at his home. He was 83 years of age. He died on the day that marked the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, and just a few hours before the death of John Adams. When Adams died, his last words included an acknowledgement of his longtime friend and rival: "Thomas Jefferson survives". Adams was unaware that Jefferson had died several hours earlier in the day. The sitting president was John Quincy Adams. He referred to the coincidence of their deaths on the nation's anniversary as being "visible and palpable remarks of Divine Favor".
As his body was being prepared for burial, attendants found a gold locket on a chain around Jefferson's neck that he had worn for over forty years, containing a small faded blue ribbon which tied a lock of his wife Martha's brown hair. Jefferson was buried at Monticello, under an epitaph that he composed:
"HERE WAS BURIED THOMAS JEFFERSON, AUTHOR OF THE DECLARATION OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE, OF THE STATUTE OF VIRGINIA FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, AND FATHER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA."
Jefferson died deeply in debt. He was unable to pass on his estate freely to his heirs. He gave instructions in his will for disposal of his assets. His instruction included the direction that the children of his slave Sally Hemings were to be given their freedom, but his estate, possessions, and slaves were sold at public auctions starting in 1827. In 1831, Monticello was sold by Martha Jefferson Randolph and the other heirs.
Following his retirement from the presidency, Jefferson continued his pursuit of academic and educational subjects and interests. However he was in need of money, as in those days the presidency left its office holders much poorer from the experience. Jefferson sold his vast collection of books to the Library of Congress. He focused on education in his home state by being a leader in the foundation of the University of Virginia.
While out of office, Jefferson continued to keep an eye on national affairs and to correspond with many of the country's leaders. It is believed that he gave advice to Madison and his Secretary of State James Monroe in the creation of the Monroe Doctrine. He got into a settled routine at Monticello of rising early, spending several hours writing letters in the morning,and at midday, he would inspect the plantation on horseback. In the evenings, his family enjoyed leisure time in the gardens before Jefferson would retire to bed with a book. His routine was often interrupted by uninvited and unexpected visitors and tourists.
The University of Virginia was one of Jefferson's proudest accomplishments. He had imagined a university free of church influences, one at which the students could specialize in many new areas not offered at other colleges. He believed that education contributed to a stable society. He believed that publicly funded schools should be accessible to students from all levels of society, provided that they earned their place based on ability. He initially proposed his University in a letter to Joseph Priestley in 1800. In 1819, when Jefferson was 76, the University of Virginia was organized. Jefferson led the state legislative campaign for its charter and, with the assistance of Edmund Bacon, he purchased the location. He was the principal designer of the buildings, planned the university's curriculum, and served as the first rector when its doors opened in 1825, the year before his death.
Jefferson was a student of architecture and admired Greek and Roman architectural styles. He associated this type of building with American democracy. Each academic unit, called a pavilion, was designed by him with a two-story temple front. The library's "Rotunda" was modeled on the Roman Pantheon. Jefferson called the university's grounds the "Academical Village". It was copmposed of ten pavilions which included classrooms and faculty residences. They formed a quadrangle and were connected by colonnades. Behind these were the students' rows of rooms. Gardens and vegetable plots were placed behind the pavilions and were surrounded by serpentine walls. The university had a library rather than a church at its center, in keeping with Jefferson's belief that the school should emphasize its secular nature. Many of his contemporary Virginians did not agree with this decision. When Jefferson died in 1826, James Madison replaced him as rector. Jefferson bequeathed most of his library to the university.
Jefferson and John Adams had been good friends at the start of their political careers, serving together in the Continental Congress in the 1770s and in Europe in the 1780s. They were on opposite sides in the Federalist/Republican split of the 1790s and Adams felt betrayed by Jefferson's sponsorship of partisan attacks, such as those leveled by newspaper editor James Callender. Jefferson was upset with Adams for his appointment of "midnight judges", Federalists who were appointed to judicial offices by Adams after Adams' defeat in the election of 1800. The two men did not communicate directly for more than a decade after Jefferson succeeded Adams as president and Adams did not even attend Jefferson's inauguration. A brief correspondence took place between Abigail Adams and Jefferson after Jefferson's daughter "Polly" died in 1804. Unknown to her husband, it was her attempt at reconciliation between the two former friends. It was unsuccessful and soon the two were once again attacking one another in their correspondence.
Benjamin Rush, a physician who had been a signer of the Declaration of Independence, hoped that Jefferson and Adams reconcile. He was on good terms with both men and he began to try to nudge the two through correspondence to re-establish contact. In 1812, Adams wrote a short New Year's greeting to Jefferson, prompted by Rush. Jefferson warmly responded. Thus began what historian David McCullough has called "one of the most extraordinary correspondences in American history". Over the next fourteen years, the former presidents exchanged 158 letters discussing their political differences, justifying their respective roles in events, and discussing how the revolution had changed the world. When Adams died, his last words were said to be an acknowledgement of his longtime friend and rival, when he uttered the words "Thomas Jefferson survives", unaware that Jefferson had died several hours earlier.
In 1821, at the age of 77 Jefferson began writing his autobiography. He described its purpose as being to "state some recollections of dates and facts concerning myself". The narrative only goes up to July 29, 1790. He did not discuss his youth, and focused mainly on the revolutionary war era. He wrote that his ancestors came from Wales to America in the early 17th century and settled in the western frontier of the Virginia colony. He attributed this to his strong belief in individual and state rights. Jefferson described his father as uneducated, but as someone possessed of a "strong mind and sound judgement". He also wrote about his time at the College of William and Mary and his election to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia in 1775. The book discusses how the Declaration of Independence as well a reforms that affected the government of Virginia. In the book Jefferson quotes from notes, letters, and documents to supplement many of its stories.
In the summer of 1824, the Marquis de Lafayette accepted an invitation from President James Monroe to visit the United States. It afforded Jefferson the opportunity to meet with Lafayette again. The two had not seen each other since 1789. After visits to New York, New England, and Washington, Lafayette arrived at Monticello on November 4, 1824. Jefferson's grandson Randolph was present for the reunion of the two men. He wrote: "As they approached each other, their uncertain gait quickened itself into a shuffling run, and exclaiming, 'Ah Jefferson!' 'Ah Lafayette!', they burst into tears as they fell into each other's arms." They retired to the house to reminisce about the old days. The next morning Jefferson, Lafayette, and James Madison attended a tour and banquet at the University of Virginia. Jefferson had someone else read a speech he had prepared for Lafayette because his voice was too weak. This was his last public address. After an 11-day visit, Lafayette left Monticello.
Just before his death, Jefferson debt had grown to approximately $100,000. He realized that he would have nothing to leave to his heirs. In February 1826, he received permission from the General Assembly to hold a public lottery as a fund raiser. By this point in time, his health began to deteriorate, due to a combination of rheumatism from arm and wrist injuries, as well as intestinal and urinary tract disorders. By June 1826, he was confined to bed. On July 3, Jefferson was suffering from an intense fever that prevented him from attending an invitation to Washington to attend a 50th anniversary celebration of the Declaration of Independence. These would be the last hours of his life. As death approached, he was surrounded by family members and friends.
On July 4, 1826, at 12:50 p.m., Jefferson died at his home. He was 83 years of age. He died on the day that marked the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, and just a few hours before the death of John Adams. When Adams died, his last words included an acknowledgement of his longtime friend and rival: "Thomas Jefferson survives". Adams was unaware that Jefferson had died several hours earlier in the day. The sitting president was John Quincy Adams. He referred to the coincidence of their deaths on the nation's anniversary as being "visible and palpable remarks of Divine Favor".
As his body was being prepared for burial, attendants found a gold locket on a chain around Jefferson's neck that he had worn for over forty years, containing a small faded blue ribbon which tied a lock of his wife Martha's brown hair. Jefferson was buried at Monticello, under an epitaph that he composed:
"HERE WAS BURIED THOMAS JEFFERSON, AUTHOR OF THE DECLARATION OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE, OF THE STATUTE OF VIRGINIA FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, AND FATHER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA."
Jefferson died deeply in debt. He was unable to pass on his estate freely to his heirs. He gave instructions in his will for disposal of his assets. His instruction included the direction that the children of his slave Sally Hemings were to be given their freedom, but his estate, possessions, and slaves were sold at public auctions starting in 1827. In 1831, Monticello was sold by Martha Jefferson Randolph and the other heirs.