Siol nan Gaidheal
Biographies
Siol nan Gaidheal
Biographies
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), third president of the United States(1801-1809) and author of the Declaration of Independence, was one of the most brilliant individuals in history. His interests were boundless, and his accomplishments were great and varied. He was a philosopher, educator, naturalist, politician, scientist, architect, inventor, pioneer in scientific farming, musician, and writer, and he was the foremost spokesman for democracy of his day. He was a direct descendant of Thomas Randolph signer of the Declaration of Arbroath who was also a nephew of Robert de Bruce. As president, Jefferson strengthened the powers of the executive branch of government. He was the first president to lead a political party, and through it he exercised control over the Congress of the United States. He had great faith in popular rule, and it is this optimism that is the essence of what came to be called Jeffersonian democracy. Jefferson swore his hostility, he said, to "every form of tyranny over the mind of man." During his lifetime he sought to develop a government that would best assure the freedom and well-being of the individual. Early Life Thomas Jefferson was born in this cabin in 1743. A year after his birth, Albemarle County was formed from the western portion of Goochland County. Peter Jefferson soon became a leader in the new county. He was a justice of the peace, a magistrate, and commander of the county militia. Although young Jefferson was accepted into the Virginia aristocracy through his mother's family, it was his father, a self-made man, whom he especially admired. In 1745, William Randolph, a cousin of Mrs. Jefferson and a close friend of the family, died. His will requested that Peter Jefferson move to his estate, manage the house and land, and supervise the education of Randolph's four children. The Jeffersons remained at Randolph's estate, known as Tuckahoe, for seven years. Education Jefferson was a tall, slender boy with sandy hair of a reddish cast and fair skin that freckled and sunburned easily. A serious student, he also enjoyed the lighter aspects of the education of a Virginia gentleman. He learned to dance and play the violin and became an excellent horseman. Weekends and holidays he spent either at Shadwell entertaining guests or at his friends' plantations. In March 1760 Jefferson entered the College of William and Mary in Virginia's capital city, Williamsburg, and soon came under the influence of Dr. William Small. Jefferson became a favorite of the doctor, who taught mathematics, natural history, metaphysics, and moral philosophy. Jefferson also continued his study of classical literature.
Jefferson Davis Jefferson F. Davis was born to Samuel Emory Davis (ca. 1756-July 4, 1824), a Revolutionary War veteran, and Jane Cook (ca. 1760-October 3, 1845) in Christian County (now part of Todd County), Kentucky on June 3, 1808. To this day, the origin of the middle initial "F." remains a mystery. Some say it stood for "Finis", meaning last, as he was the last child born. That is likely just a myth, but nevertheless, he used the "F." in his signature until 1833, then never again. Around 1809, his family moved briefly to Louisiana, but then settled in Woodville, Wilkinson County, Mississippi. He attended St. Thomas College in Springfield, Washington County, Kentucky, Jefferson College in Adams County, Mississippi, and then Wilkinson County Academy near his home, before entering Transylvania University in Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky. Following the death of his father, he went to the United States Military Academy at West Point, Orange County, New York, and graduated 23rd in his class in 1828. 2nd Lt. Davis served at a variety of posts in the western frontier. Most notably, he took part in the Indian removal from Wisconsin following the Black Hawk War (1832). He resigned from the Army in 1835, and on June 17th of that year, married Sarah Knox Taylor (March 6, 1814-September 15, 1835), daughter of Gen. (later U.S. President) Zachary Taylor (November 24, 1784-July 09, 1850). He and his new wife planned to settle in Mississippi and live as cotton planters. Sadly, while visiting family in Louisiana, Davis and his wife became extremely ill with malaria. The fever claimed the life of Sarah, but Jefferson recovered. He traveled for a year to regain his strength and emotions from the loss. He returned to establish his plantation "Brierfield" in Warren County, Mississippi, and spent time studying philosophy, history, and Constitutional law. On February 26, 1845, Davis married Varina Banks Howell (May 7, 1826-October 16, 1906). He soon became involved in politics, winning a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 1845. He resigned in June 1846 to become Colonel of the 1st Mississippi Rifles in the Mexican War (1846-1848), and served under his former father in-law, Gen. Zachary Taylor (November 24, 1784-July 09, 1850). He helped negotiate the Mexican surrender following the Battle of Monterrey (September 20-24, 1846) and was later wounded in the Battle of Buena Vista (February 23, 1847). By war's end, he was appointed Brigadier General, but later declined the promotion. He was appointed by the Governor of Mississippi on August 10, 1847 to be a temporary replacement for a U.S. Senator who had died. The next year he was elected by the state legislature to complete the term, and was re-elected to the post in 1850. Davis became a strong supporter of John C. Calhoun, the great South Carolina "States Rights" leader, believed in strict Constitutional interpretation, and opposed the Compromise of 1850. He resigned on September 23, 1861, to run for Governor of Mississippi on the States Rights Democrats Party ticket and narrowly lost the election. In 1853, U.S. President Franklin Pierce (November 23, 1804-October 8, 1869) appointed Davis Secretary of War. While in office, he made many improvements to the U.S. Army. He enlarged its size, and modified its weapons and uniforms. With the help of Lt. Col. (later C.S. Lt. Gen.) William J. Hardee* (October 12, 1815-November 6, 1873), they devised an improved system of infantry tactics. Both armies used adaptations of Hardee's Rifle And Light Infantry Tactics during the War Between the States. Davis was re-elected to the U.S. Senate by the State of Mississippi in 1856. He worked for the preservation of "States Rights" and the right of territorial choice regarding the question of slavery. Following Mississippi's secession, he resigned his Senate seat on January 19, 1861, in hopes of being appointed commander of the new nation's army. Instead, he was elected Provisional President of the Confederate States of America on February 9, 1861, and took the oath of office on February 18, 1861. Re-elected for a six year term that November, he was inaugurated as Permanent President on February 22, 1862. Davis was an able administrator, but made some poor command choices that inevitably cost the Confederacy the war. His health suffered, but he managed his duties as President with devotion. After the fall of Richmond, Davis and the Cabinet took flight southward. The group disbanded in Washington, Wilkes County, Georgia on May 5, 1865, and he was captured near Irwinville, Irwin County, Georgia on May 10, 1865. Indicted for treason, he was imprisoned for two years at Fortress Monroe, near Hampton Roads, Virginia, awaiting a trial that never came. Following his release on May 13, 1867, he traveled and pursued business ventures, but without much success. He spent the final years of his life studying and writing at "Beauvoir", his home in Biloxi, Harrison County, Mississippi. His retrospective, The Rise And Fall Of The Confederate Government was published in 1881. Davis died on December 6, 1889, and was buried in Metairie Cemetery near New Orleans, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. His body was relocated to Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia in 1893. "Civil war has only horror for me, but whatever circumstances demand shall be met as a duty." - Jefferson Davis (January 20, 1861) During the Mexican War (1846-1848), he served six months as Major of the Third Kentucky Volunteers. In 1849, he was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives. He was then selected to represent Kentucky in the U.S. House of Representatives and served March 4, 1851-March 3, 1855. In 1854, U.S. President Franklin Pierce (November 23, 1804-October 8, 1869) offered him the ambassadorship to Spain, but he declined. Breckinridge was elected Vice-President of the United States in 1856 on the Democratic ticket with James Buchanan (April 23, 1791-June 1, 1868) as President. In 1860, he was the Southern Democratic Party's choice for the presidency. Following his defeat by Republican Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809-April 15, 1865), Breckinridge succeeded John J. Crittenden (September 10, 1786-July 26, 1863) as U.S. Senator from Kentucky on March 4, 1861. He actively worked for accommodation and compromise with the South, but after the firing on Fort Sumter on April 12th, 1861, he maintained that the Union no longer existed and urged Kentucky to secede. Despite his efforts, his state's allegiances remained split. He was formally expelled from the U.S. Senate on December 4, 1861, but this action was meaningless as he was commissioned a brigadier general in the Confederate Army on November 2, 1861. After the Battle of Shiloh (April 6-7, 1862), where he commanded the Reserve Corps, he was promoted to the rank of major general on April 14, 1862. He distinguished himself in many other battles and campaigns including: Baton Rouge (August 5, 1862), Murfreesboro (Stones River) (December 31, 1862; January 2, 1863), Jackson (July 10-16, 1863), Chickamauga & Chattanooga (September 16-November 25, 1863) (At Chattanooga, leading D. H. Hill's Corps, Lynchburg (May 24-June 18, 1864), Early's Raid Into Maryland (June 23-August 3, 1864), and the Shenandoah Valley (August 7-November 28, 1864). In the Battle of New Market (May 15, 1864), he won perhaps the most important small battle of the war. During this period, he was also charged with the leadership of Army of Middle Tennessee (October 28,1862 - November 7, 1862), Department of Western Virginia and East Tennessee (February 25, 1864-May 4, 1864), and Valley District (May 4, 1864-June 13, 1864). Following the resignation of James A. Seddon (July 13, 1815-August 19, 1880), he was appointed Secretary of War on February 6, 1865. He organized the evacuation of Richmond, and assisted Gen. Joseph E. Johnston (February 3, 1807-March 21, 1891) in surrendering the Army of Tennessee at Durham, Durham County, North Carolina. After the Cabinet disbanded in Washington, Wilkes County, Georgia on May 5, 1865, he fled via Florida and Cuba to England, then on to Canada. When U.S. President Andrew Johnson (December 29, 1808-July 31, 1875) granted him amnesty in 1868, he returned to his home in Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky. He re-established his law practice, and served as Vice-President of the Elizabethtown, Lexington, & Big Sandy Railroad until his death on May 17, 1875. Breckinridge is buried in Lexington Cemetery. When the war came, he was commissioned a major in the Confederate Army. In the Battle of Big Bethel (June 10, 1861), one of the very first fights of the war, he was Chief of Artillery for Col. (later Brig. Gen. and Maj. Gen.) "Prince John" B. Magruder (May 1, 1807-February 18, 1871). For his actions, Randolph was promoted to Brigadier General on February 12, 1862. He was appointed Secretary of War, by President Jefferson Davis (June 3, 1808-December 6, 1889), on March 18, 1862, and took office on March 24, 1862. He was effective with coordinating the work of the field commanders, but Davis resented an over-zealous decision he made without presidential approval. Bitter over the affair, Randolph resigned on November 17, 1862. Discovering he had tuberculosis, he traveled abroad in hopes that his health might improve. Unfortunately, it did not. Following the war, he returned to Virginia and died at "Edgehill", near "Monticello", on April 3, 1867. Randolph is buried, with many of his famous family members, in the "Monticello" Graveyard in Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Virginia.
Thomas Jefferson's father, Peter Jefferson, was a prosperous Virginia planter. His mother, Jane Randolph Jefferson, was a member of the old and distinguished Randolph family of Virginia. In 1743 the Jeffersons moved to western Goochland County, where Peter Jefferson had acquired 162 hectares (400 acres) of undeveloped land. He named his estate Shadwell. At first the family lived in a simple log cabin.
Thomas was five years old when he began his education under the family tutor at Tuckahoe. In 1752 the Jeffersons returned to Shadwell and again started work on a plantation home. Thomas, however, spent little time at Shadwell. Almost immediately he was sent to Dover, Virginia, where he studied Latin with the Reverend William Douglas until 1757, when his father died. He was then sent to the school of the Reverend James Maury at Hanover, Virginia, and spent two years studying Greek and Latin classics, history, literature, geography, and natural science.
Jefferson Davis achieved the rank of Brigadier General in the U. S. Army, served as Secretary of War under U.S. President Franklin Pierce. He was elected Provisional President of the Confederate States of America on February 9, 1861. He was inaugurated as Permanent President of the Confederate States of America on February 22, 1862. Also note his favorite song was Scotland the Brave. The web page for Beauvoir home of the President Jefferson Davis Library is: http://beauvoir.org/
Return to Famous Americans
Return to Index