Excerpt
Chapter 1: A Boy with Big Questions
The world Thomas Jefferson was born into was filled with forests, rivers, and wide, open land. In 1743, he arrived into a life that was already pretty busy—he was the third of ten children! His family lived on a large piece of land in Virginia called Shadwell, where animals roamed, crops grew, and there was always something going on.
Even though life on a plantation was full of chores and responsibility, young Thomas was more interested in learning than in running around. He didn’t need a classroom to get started. He was curious about everything. What made thunder rumble? How did birds know when to fly south? Why did plants grow faster in some places than others? His brain was constantly buzzing with questions.
Books were his favorite thing. While other kids might have been outside tossing a ball, Thomas could often be found with his nose buried in a book. He read about history, science, animals, and even ancient languages. The more he read, the more he wanted to know. He learned Latin, Greek, and French while still a kid, which most adults never even attempt.
His father, Peter Jefferson, helped lay the groundwork for that. Peter was a surveyor and a planter, which meant he measured land and helped shape how early Virginia looked on maps. He believed education mattered, especially for boys who might one day lead or own land. His mother, Jane Randolph Jefferson, came from a well-known and wealthy family. Her relatives had traveled all the way from England, and she made sure her children had a sense of manners and tradition—but also pride in thinking for themselves.
Even though the Jeffersons had money and land, that didn’t mean life was easy. When Thomas was just a teenager, his father died. That meant Thomas had to grow up quickly. He was only 14, and already the oldest boy in a big family. Losing a parent at that age isn’t just sad—it changes everything. He suddenly had to start thinking more seriously about his future.
He didn't have time to waste. By then, he'd already been studying with local tutors—private teachers who came to his home—and had shown that his brain was like a sponge. He absorbed facts fast and remembered details like a champion. His family sent him to a school run by Reverend James Maury, a respected teacher who introduced Thomas to philosophy and science, which were pretty advanced subjects for a kid. Maury didn’t just hand him facts. He encouraged Thomas to question things, to dig deeper, to not just believe something because someone said it, but to explore why it was true.
That way of thinking stuck with him.
At home, Thomas kept a journal where he wrote down facts, new words, and observations about the world. He might jot down how many inches of rain fell, how quickly a certain crop grew, or what animals he spotted in the woods. In some ways, he was a scientist even before he had a job. He didn’t wait to be told what to explore—he just did it.
Living in Virginia also meant living in a world with harsh rules and big contradictions. While Jefferson’s family owned a large property and had enslaved people working the land, Thomas grew up surrounded by the idea that freedom and independence were valuable. That didn’t match with the way slavery worked, even though it was common in his time. He saw the world through the eyes of someone born into privilege, but the questions he would ask as he got older—including about slavery—began to grow even during those early years.
When he had free time, Thomas loved to play his violin. Music wasn’t just a hobby—it was something he felt deeply. He practiced constantly and even kept a collection of music books and compositions. It wasn’t unusual for him to perform for friends or use music as a way to relax after studying. He also enjoyed riding his horse through the Virginia hills. Those rides gave him space to think and notice the way the land moved, the trees swayed, and the weather changed. Being close to nature helped him stay curious.
And food? He had strong opinions even about that. He liked vegetables from his family’s garden, and one day he’d become famous for introducing new foods to America. But that started with learning about how food was grown and prepared back in Virginia.
The world Thomas Jefferson was born into was filled with forests, rivers, and wide, open land. In 1743, he arrived into a life that was already pretty busy—he was the third of ten children! His family lived on a large piece of land in Virginia called Shadwell, where animals roamed, crops grew, and there was always something going on.
Even though life on a plantation was full of chores and responsibility, young Thomas was more interested in learning than in running around. He didn’t need a classroom to get started. He was curious about everything. What made thunder rumble? How did birds know when to fly south? Why did plants grow faster in some places than others? His brain was constantly buzzing with questions.
Books were his favorite thing. While other kids might have been outside tossing a ball, Thomas could often be found with his nose buried in a book. He read about history, science, animals, and even ancient languages. The more he read, the more he wanted to know. He learned Latin, Greek, and French while still a kid, which most adults never even attempt.
His father, Peter Jefferson, helped lay the groundwork for that. Peter was a surveyor and a planter, which meant he measured land and helped shape how early Virginia looked on maps. He believed education mattered, especially for boys who might one day lead or own land. His mother, Jane Randolph Jefferson, came from a well-known and wealthy family. Her relatives had traveled all the way from England, and she made sure her children had a sense of manners and tradition—but also pride in thinking for themselves.
Even though the Jeffersons had money and land, that didn’t mean life was easy. When Thomas was just a teenager, his father died. That meant Thomas had to grow up quickly. He was only 14, and already the oldest boy in a big family. Losing a parent at that age isn’t just sad—it changes everything. He suddenly had to start thinking more seriously about his future.
He didn't have time to waste. By then, he'd already been studying with local tutors—private teachers who came to his home—and had shown that his brain was like a sponge. He absorbed facts fast and remembered details like a champion. His family sent him to a school run by Reverend James Maury, a respected teacher who introduced Thomas to philosophy and science, which were pretty advanced subjects for a kid. Maury didn’t just hand him facts. He encouraged Thomas to question things, to dig deeper, to not just believe something because someone said it, but to explore why it was true.
That way of thinking stuck with him.
At home, Thomas kept a journal where he wrote down facts, new words, and observations about the world. He might jot down how many inches of rain fell, how quickly a certain crop grew, or what animals he spotted in the woods. In some ways, he was a scientist even before he had a job. He didn’t wait to be told what to explore—he just did it.
Living in Virginia also meant living in a world with harsh rules and big contradictions. While Jefferson’s family owned a large property and had enslaved people working the land, Thomas grew up surrounded by the idea that freedom and independence were valuable. That didn’t match with the way slavery worked, even though it was common in his time. He saw the world through the eyes of someone born into privilege, but the questions he would ask as he got older—including about slavery—began to grow even during those early years.
When he had free time, Thomas loved to play his violin. Music wasn’t just a hobby—it was something he felt deeply. He practiced constantly and even kept a collection of music books and compositions. It wasn’t unusual for him to perform for friends or use music as a way to relax after studying. He also enjoyed riding his horse through the Virginia hills. Those rides gave him space to think and notice the way the land moved, the trees swayed, and the weather changed. Being close to nature helped him stay curious.
And food? He had strong opinions even about that. He liked vegetables from his family’s garden, and one day he’d become famous for introducing new foods to America. But that started with learning about how food was grown and prepared back in Virginia.