Two hundred eighty years ago. on April 13, 1743, Thomas Jefferson was born on the Shadwell Plantation of the British Virginia Colony, the third of 10 children. Jefferson’s passion for liberty started at a young age while interacting with Native Americans, including Cherokee Chief Ostenaco. He fell in love with libraries while studying philosophy at the College of William and Mary. where he became an admirer of Patrick Henry, who later coined the phrase “give me liberty or give me death.” In 1767, Jefferson was admitted to the Virginia Bar, and from 1769 to 1775, he represented Albemarle County as a delegate in the Virginia House of Burgesses, where he pushed legislation enabling slaveholders to free their slaves without approval from the royal governor and General Court. While practicing law, he took seven cases for slaves seeking freedom, arguing that the institution was against “natural law.” When one judge ruled against him, he gave his client money to escape bondage.
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