Thomas Jefferson (1743 - 1826) was the second Vice President under John Adams and third President of the United States, serving from 1801 to 1809. A Founding Father and a key figure in the American Revolution, he is best known for drafting the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Born in Virginia on April 13, 1743, Jefferson was a statesman, diplomat, and philosopher, with a strong belief in democracy, individual rights, and limited government. During his presidency, he oversaw the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, which doubled the size of the United States, and commissioned the Lewis and Clark Expedition to explore the western territories. Jefferson was also a proponent of religious freedom and founded the University of Virginia. His legacy is marked by his influence on the shaping of American political thought and the expansion of the nation.