1. jefferson, thomas American statesman, born at Shadwell, Virginia; took a prominent part in the Revolution, and claimed to have drawn up the Declaration of Independence; he secured the decimalcoinage for the States in 1783; was plenipotentiary in France in 1784, and subsequently minister there; third President, 1801-1807, he saw the Louisianapurchase and the prohibition of the slave-trade; after his retirement he devoted himself to furthering educationtill his death at Monticello, Va.; he was a man of extremes, but honest and consistent in his policy (1743-1826).
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