April 13Unique among American presidents, Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) was not only a statesman but a scholar, linguist, writer, philosopher, political theorist, architect, engineer, and farmer. In Europe, he was praised as the foremost American thinker of his time. In the United States, he is remembered primarily as the author in 1776 of the Declaration of Independence. After retiring from government service, Jefferson founded the University of Virginia, which opened in 1825. He died on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
As one of the founders of the Democratic party, along with Andrew Jackson, he has been honored since 1936 by the Democratic National Committee, which often sponsors official dinners in various locations across the country known as "Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinners." Sometimes these dinners are held on January 8, the anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans.
At the University of Virginia at Charlottesville, April 13 was observed for many years as Founder's Day, but in 1975 the date was shifted to early fall. There is a formal academic procession, after which an address is given by a nationally known figure. This is also the day on which the Thomas Jefferson Award is give to a leading member of the university community.
A birthday commemoration is held each year at Monticello, Jefferson's home in Virginia, as well as at the Jefferson Memorial on the Mall in Washington, D.C.
CONTACTS:
Monticello
The Thomas Jefferson Foundation
P.O. Box 316
Charlottesville, VA 22902
434-984-9800
www.monticello.org
Library of Congress
101 Independence Ave. S.E.
Washington, DC 20540
202-707-5000; fax: 202-707-8366
www.loc.gov
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
National Park Service
900 Ohio Dr. S.W.
Washington, DC 20024
202-426-6841
www.nps.gov
SOURCES:
AmerBkDays-2000, p. 280
AnnivHol-2000, p. 62
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