Thomas Jefferson"Sage of Monticello"

Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) served as the 2nd Vice President of the United States under John Adams from 1797 to 1801, then became the 3rd President from 1801 to 1809. He is best known as the principal author of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Before his vice presidency, he served as Governor of Virginia, U.S. Minister to France, and the first Secretary of State under George Washington. As Adams's VP, the two men were political rivals from opposing parties (Jefferson led the Democratic-Republicans), making for an unusually tense working relationship. As president, his most significant achievement was the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, which doubled the size of the United States, and he commissioned the Lewis and Clark Expedition to explore the new western territory. He was also a polymath with deep interests in architecture, science, philosophy, and education, founding the University of Virginia later in life.