Thomas Jefferson (A Life)

April 13, 1743, to a family in VA
Thomas Jefferson was born on a Saturday

He was one of ten children and studied what he saw
He learned to speak three languages, the violin, and law

At William and Mary, it was math and philosophy
He became a lawyer and built a large library

In '72, Tom wed Martha, 10 years, it was to be
They had six children, four died young
Then, sadly, so did she

To Tom, the Declaration of Independence, was consigned
Congress edited it, then, in '76, it was signed

Tom was governor of Virginia, and minister to France
The Secretary of State under Washington, then, he made an advance

Thomas Jefferson, statesman, author, leader of our land
His deep wisdom guided us from being good to grand

In '96, Tom and John Adams for President, they ran
Adams won, Tom, the VP, though, Tom did not support John's plan

In 1801, Tom became president number three
With the Louisiana Purchase, and Lewis and Clark, he expanded the country

Tom served two terms, till 1809 as president
In that time, he reduced the National debt by 30%

Once he retired, Jefferson founded the U of VA
He wrote Adams, and his life story, though his debts were hard to pay

July fourth, 1826, Thomas Jefferson died
A half century after the document he wrote became our guide

Tom's legacy in founding the USA is profound
He's on the nickel and two-dollar bill, so he's always around