My father

I do not need to wait for Father's Day next year to say my hero is my father Peter Jefferson (February 29, 1707 - August 17, 1757). He was of Welsh descent. I was 14 years old when he died. My father was a brave man of notable deeds and accomplishments, not only of title or position. He was a cartographer/surveyor, which was a perilous profession. As the third son in his family, my father was not the heir apparent so his education was neglected but he always supported my education. He gave me my first library, encouraging my life-long love of books.

On a related note, I was named after my grandfather Thomas Jefferson. However, my great-grandfather was also named Thomas Jefferson, as well as my father’s oldest brother Thomas Jefferson, who died at 23 years old.