If you're reading this, first, I thank you, and second, of all, I warn you. You are now figuring out just how much of a geek I am, if you didn't already know that about me. The American history major in me couldn't help but show itself in its true forms of red, white and blue on Thomas Jefferson's 272nd birthday on April 13th.
Most of you reading this probably have some basic background about Jefferson, like that he wrote the Declaration of Independence, he was the third president, and you may also know that he helped establish the first political party system in the United States. The name Sally Hemings may also ring a bell, bringing forth one of the most controversial aspects of Jefferson's life and legacy.
While all of these characteristics resonate with Jefferson's name, there are heaps of things that most people do not know about, in my opinion, our nation's most fascinating president.
1. He was a skilled architect. He experimented with design and introduced classical architecture to the United States through the creation of his own residence, Monticello, in Virginia. Throughout the course of his life he remodeled his house multiple times, claiming that “architecture is [his] delight, and putting up and pulling down, one of [his] favorite amusements."
2. He sold around 6,000 of his own books to the Library of Congress. Jefferson could read French, Latin, Greek, Spanish, Italian and some say even German and had an immense personal library. Not only did he own all of these books, I'm sure they weren't just for decoration, either.
3. He loved innovation and technology. He owned a device that held open five books at a time, and it rotated. He also had a ceiling-high clock that he climbed on a ladder to reset every day.
4. He also loved food. Like a lot. One of his favorites was vanilla ice cream. He brought home a recipe for it from France that today is stored in the Library of Congress. He also introduced french fries to America in 1802 when he served them at Monticello. Bless you.
5. And wine. LOTS of wine. He had a small plot of grape vines at Monticello but was never able to get them to grow well (grapes don't really grow in Virginia if you didn't know). That didn't stop him from drinking it, however. Jefferson proclaimed, “The light and high-flavored wines is a necessary of life with me."
6. He kept pet mockingbirds. “Their singing just gets me hype." If Jefferson were a teen today...
7. He sucked at handling money. Just because I love Jefferson doesn't mean I'm going to ignore his flaws. Despite playing multiple musical instruments, being an inventor, architect, lawyer, gardener, politician, statesmen, writer (the list goes on, but I think you get the picture), he could not manage money. He spent lavishly on wine (of course), furniture, construction projects and even scientific artifacts, causing him to be in debt for much of his life.
8. Public speaking freaked him out. While he was likely always the smartest person in the room, speaking to a group of people gave him the shakes. Because of this, he gave the State of Union address to Congress in writing, a tradition that stayed in place until 1913.
