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The Memoir of Thomas Jefferson
At the age of seventy-seven, I begin to make some memoranda, and state some recollections of dates and facts concerning myself, for my own more ready reference, and for the information of my family.
In his memoir, begun in 1821 and published posthumously, Thomas Jefferson recalls the early years of his formidable political rise, including his election to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. He reflects on the French Revolution and his relationships with such notable contemporaries as Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and other Founding Fathers.
But Jefferson’s primary focus is on that which he considered his greatest patriotic the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. His personal observations on its creation, its debates, and its impact remain as an invaluable record to the American revolutionary era.
Revised Previously published as The Memoir of Thomas Jefferson, this edition of The Memoir of Thomas Jefferson (AmazonClassics Edition) includes editorial revisions.
In his memoir, begun in 1821 and published posthumously, Thomas Jefferson recalls the early years of his formidable political rise, including his election to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. He reflects on the French Revolution and his relationships with such notable contemporaries as Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and other Founding Fathers.
But Jefferson’s primary focus is on that which he considered his greatest patriotic the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. His personal observations on its creation, its debates, and its impact remain as an invaluable record to the American revolutionary era.
Revised Previously published as The Memoir of Thomas Jefferson, this edition of The Memoir of Thomas Jefferson (AmazonClassics Edition) includes editorial revisions.
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197 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 14, 2020
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About the author
Thomas Jefferson
1,659 books698 followersThomas Jefferson was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, philosopher, and Founding Father who served as the third president of the United States from 1801 to 1809. He was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence. Following the American Revolutionary War and prior to becoming president in 1801, Jefferson was the nation's first U.S. secretary of state under George Washington and then the nation's second vice president under John Adams. Jefferson was a leading proponent of democracy, republicanism, and individual rights, and produced formative documents and decisions at the state, national, and international levels. His writings and advocacy for human rights, including freedom of thought, speech, and religion, served as substantial inspirations to the American Revolution and subsequent Revolutionary War in which the Thirteen Colonies succeeded in breaking from British America and establishing the United States as a sovereign nation.
During the American Revolution, Jefferson represented Virginia at the Second Continental Congress and served as the second governor of Virginia from 1779 to 1781. In 1785, Congress appointed Jefferson U.S. minister to France, where he served from 1785 to 1789. President Washington then appointed Jefferson the nation's first secretary of state, where he served from 1790 to 1793. During this time, in the early 1790s, Jefferson and James Madison organized the Democratic-Republican Party to oppose the Federalist Party during the formation of the nation's First Party System. Jefferson and Federalist John Adams became both friends and political rivals. In the 1796 U.S. presidential election between the two, Jefferson came in second, which made him Adams' vice president under the electoral laws of the time. Four years later, in the 1800 presidential election, Jefferson again challenged Adams, and won the presidency. In 1804, Jefferson was reelected overwhelmingly to a second term.
As president, Jefferson assertively defended the nation's shipping and trade interests against Barbary pirates and aggressive British trade policies, promoted a western expansionist policy with the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the nation's geographic size, and was able to reduce military forces and expenditures following successful negotiations with France. In his second presidential term, Jefferson was beset by difficulties at home, including the trial of his former vice president Aaron Burr. In 1807, Jefferson implemented the Embargo Act to defend the nation's industries from British threats to U.S. shipping, limiting foreign trade and stimulating the birth of the American manufacturing industry. Presidential scholars and historians praise Jefferson's public achievements, including his advocacy of religious freedom and tolerance, his peaceful acquisition of the Louisiana Territory from France, and his leadership in supporting the Lewis and Clark Expedition; they give radically differing interpretations of his views on and relationship with slavery.
Jefferson is ranked by both scholars and in public opinion among the upper-tier of American presidents.
During the American Revolution, Jefferson represented Virginia at the Second Continental Congress and served as the second governor of Virginia from 1779 to 1781. In 1785, Congress appointed Jefferson U.S. minister to France, where he served from 1785 to 1789. President Washington then appointed Jefferson the nation's first secretary of state, where he served from 1790 to 1793. During this time, in the early 1790s, Jefferson and James Madison organized the Democratic-Republican Party to oppose the Federalist Party during the formation of the nation's First Party System. Jefferson and Federalist John Adams became both friends and political rivals. In the 1796 U.S. presidential election between the two, Jefferson came in second, which made him Adams' vice president under the electoral laws of the time. Four years later, in the 1800 presidential election, Jefferson again challenged Adams, and won the presidency. In 1804, Jefferson was reelected overwhelmingly to a second term.
As president, Jefferson assertively defended the nation's shipping and trade interests against Barbary pirates and aggressive British trade policies, promoted a western expansionist policy with the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the nation's geographic size, and was able to reduce military forces and expenditures following successful negotiations with France. In his second presidential term, Jefferson was beset by difficulties at home, including the trial of his former vice president Aaron Burr. In 1807, Jefferson implemented the Embargo Act to defend the nation's industries from British threats to U.S. shipping, limiting foreign trade and stimulating the birth of the American manufacturing industry. Presidential scholars and historians praise Jefferson's public achievements, including his advocacy of religious freedom and tolerance, his peaceful acquisition of the Louisiana Territory from France, and his leadership in supporting the Lewis and Clark Expedition; they give radically differing interpretations of his views on and relationship with slavery.
Jefferson is ranked by both scholars and in public opinion among the upper-tier of American presidents.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 25, 2024
Read via audiobook.
If I have to describe this book in a few words I would say missed opportunity. Jefferson had such an interesting life, and the events in this book happen before his political career really took off, so the book is fairly uneventful. I already knew most of the information in this book. My advice, look elsewhere for other books on Jefferson's life.
If I have to describe this book in a few words I would say missed opportunity. Jefferson had such an interesting life, and the events in this book happen before his political career really took off, so the book is fairly uneventful. I already knew most of the information in this book. My advice, look elsewhere for other books on Jefferson's life.
July 27, 2025
2⭐️ Meh. I was hoping this would be more of a life story of TJ not centered all around France....This was super boring and I found myself skimming a ton.
January 20, 2021
This is truly a fascinating, if unexciting memoir by Thomas Jefferson. It's a little frustrating because it ends right after he resigns as secretary of state, and before all the real excitement of his life starts. Nevertheless, in the sections that cover his diplomatic career during the war, he definitely names names and throws people under the bus, which is always the real fun of a political memoir, isn't it?
Either way, as a historical document this is important and interesting to read. We often know our founders through snippets, or political documents, or letters and journals. But we don't often read at length their own thoughts for the public about the politics of the time. It does help give some perspective, as they often find things to be of the utmost importance that we barely get taught in history classes now. It just goes to show you that we are at a historical disadvantage in the present, without clarity of what is going to be significant and what is not.
So, as history and as a document it's interesting, but as a piece of writing, it isn't riveting or flowing or funny or exciting. It's the writing of an overly serious 30-something who thinks he has had enough excitement for a full lifetime and wants to share that will also shifting blame and explaining things. Little does he know how the narrative of his life was to unfold after this ended. But I would not read this for fun.
The various appendices are interesting in one degree. It's a spattering of letters, private thoughts, and documents he wrote that shed some light on the nuances and weeds involved in creating a country from scratch. So that sort of world building is great. But again, I really wouldn't read this for fun.
For me, I read this in conjunction to some other Thomas Jefferson biographies to see Jefferson's own side of events which I had just read about. I really thought it was going to be way more exciting than it was. It's just really dry. But if you have the fortitude for such historical nerding out, then you'll enjoy it.
Either way, as a historical document this is important and interesting to read. We often know our founders through snippets, or political documents, or letters and journals. But we don't often read at length their own thoughts for the public about the politics of the time. It does help give some perspective, as they often find things to be of the utmost importance that we barely get taught in history classes now. It just goes to show you that we are at a historical disadvantage in the present, without clarity of what is going to be significant and what is not.
So, as history and as a document it's interesting, but as a piece of writing, it isn't riveting or flowing or funny or exciting. It's the writing of an overly serious 30-something who thinks he has had enough excitement for a full lifetime and wants to share that will also shifting blame and explaining things. Little does he know how the narrative of his life was to unfold after this ended. But I would not read this for fun.
The various appendices are interesting in one degree. It's a spattering of letters, private thoughts, and documents he wrote that shed some light on the nuances and weeds involved in creating a country from scratch. So that sort of world building is great. But again, I really wouldn't read this for fun.
For me, I read this in conjunction to some other Thomas Jefferson biographies to see Jefferson's own side of events which I had just read about. I really thought it was going to be way more exciting than it was. It's just really dry. But if you have the fortitude for such historical nerding out, then you'll enjoy it.
July 5, 2021
A Brilliant Man
Thomas Jefferson is one of the most important individuals in the history of the United States. He drafted the Declaration of Independence, served as ambassador to France, Governor of Virginia, Secretary of State under George Washington, and was the third U.S. President. In this latter office, he negotiated the Louisiana Purchase, authorized the Lewis and Clark expedition, and signed the Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves. Though he did own slaves, he made clear in his rhetoric that he understood it to be a vile institution and that one day the fledgling United States would necessarily have to do away with it. This "Memoir" encompass many of the major events of his life, and is just one of the many valuable contributions Jefferson made to posterity.
Thomas Jefferson is one of the most important individuals in the history of the United States. He drafted the Declaration of Independence, served as ambassador to France, Governor of Virginia, Secretary of State under George Washington, and was the third U.S. President. In this latter office, he negotiated the Louisiana Purchase, authorized the Lewis and Clark expedition, and signed the Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves. Though he did own slaves, he made clear in his rhetoric that he understood it to be a vile institution and that one day the fledgling United States would necessarily have to do away with it. This "Memoir" encompass many of the major events of his life, and is just one of the many valuable contributions Jefferson made to posterity.
October 30, 2021
Thomas Jefferson
This is a must read if you have any interest of one of the greatest founding fathers. This a an account of his life through his own words. I found that I learned more about Jefferson than I had known before.
Another great book that you may find of intrest is "Jefferson and Tripoli Pirates."
This is a must read if you have any interest of one of the greatest founding fathers. This a an account of his life through his own words. I found that I learned more about Jefferson than I had known before.
Another great book that you may find of intrest is "Jefferson and Tripoli Pirates."
September 2, 2021
Seems mainly like TJ was trying to make history look good upon him. Based on the sanctified view most Gen Xers and back have of him I think it worked. There’s some really interesting first hand accounts of the liberal and enlightenment philosophy that was on the founding fathers minds when creating the US. Particularly I was really interested in John Adams’ view that the average impoverished laborer was just as dependent on his employer/destitute as a slave to their master, and slaves created the same amount of value for the economy as impoverished white laborers. This was used to justify their original tax scheme using population. We all know that the 3/5th compromise came eventually to put the “population/who are really people” debate to rest about representation. It’s absolutely wild that even the founding fathers knew that poor whites and poor people in general were getting the short end of the stick by being in low wage jobs and 200+ years later the same is still true.
March 11, 2022
Remarkable
To gain insight into the daily remunerations of one of the leading political and industrious persons in the history of the United States was a remarkable experience. While the subject matter can be highly detailed, therein lies the positive impact of this writing. This type of work may not be for everyone. I enjoyed it beyond words.
To gain insight into the daily remunerations of one of the leading political and industrious persons in the history of the United States was a remarkable experience. While the subject matter can be highly detailed, therein lies the positive impact of this writing. This type of work may not be for everyone. I enjoyed it beyond words.
January 8, 2022
Great Read
It’s always entertaining and a learning experience to hear the words of what took place from someone who was actually there and is partial. This work delivers just that and some more details on how the democracy and republicanism of the United States was founded, and how fate played a part even in the most crucial points in time.
It’s always entertaining and a learning experience to hear the words of what took place from someone who was actually there and is partial. This work delivers just that and some more details on how the democracy and republicanism of the United States was founded, and how fate played a part even in the most crucial points in time.
February 24, 2023
Very Interesting
Of late, I’ve had the urge to reeducate myself in the histories. What our founding fathers must think of us right now!!!!!
Of late, I’ve had the urge to reeducate myself in the histories. What our founding fathers must think of us right now!!!!!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews