Thomas Jefferson was the author of the declaration of independence and he was the third president. He also was one of the leading people in the American experiment. Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743, in Shadwell on a plantation present-day Charlottesville, Virginia. Peter Jefferson bought a plantation that became known as Monticello. Thomas Jefferson was born at Shadwell his father died in 1757 three years later Thomas went to the college of William and mary two years later Jefferson began to study law with George wythe. When Thomas Jefferson became of age he had inherited Monticello. He then went on to practice law before the general court. He then was elected to the house of burgesses and the leveling of the Monticello mountain