| In 1752, Jefferson began attending a local school run by William Douglas, a Scottish minister. At the age of nine, Jefferson began studying [[Latin]], [[Greek]], and [[French]]. In 1757, when he was 14 years old, his father died. Jefferson inherited about 5,000 acres (20 km²) of land and dozens of slaves. He built his home there, which eventually became known as [[Monticello]]. | | In 1752, Jefferson began attending a local school run by William Douglas, a Scottish minister. At the age of nine, Jefferson began studying [[Latin]], [[Greek]], and [[French]]. In 1757, when he was 14 years old, his father died. Jefferson inherited about 5,000 acres (20 km²) of land and dozens of slaves. He built his home there, which eventually became known as [[Monticello]]. |
− | After his father's death, he was taught at the school of the learned minister James Maury from 1758 to 1760. [http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/mtjhtml/mtjtime1.html |title=The Thomas Jefferson Papers Timeline: 1743–1827] The school was in Fredericksville Parish near Gordonsville, Virginia, twelve miles (19 km) from Shadwell, and Jefferson boarded with Maury's family. There he received a [[The Classics|classical education]] and studied [[history]] and science. | + | After his father's death, he was taught at the school of the learned minister James Maury from 1758 to 1760. [http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/mtjhtml/mtjtime1.html The Thomas Jefferson Papers Timeline: 1743–1827] The school was in Fredericksville Parish near Gordonsville, Virginia, twelve miles (19 km) from Shadwell, and Jefferson boarded with Maury's family. There he received a [[Classics|classical education]] and studied [[history]] and science. |
| In 1760 Jefferson entered The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia at the age of 16; he studied there for two years, graduating with highest honors in 1762. At William & Mary, he enrolled in the [[philosophy]] school and studied [[mathematics]], [[metaphysics]], and philosophy under Professor William Small, who introduced the enthusiastic Jefferson to the writings of the [[British Empiricists]], including [[John Locke]], [[Francis Bacon]], and [[Isaac Newton]] (Jefferson called them the "three greatest men the world had ever produced"). He also perfected his French, carried his Greek grammar book wherever he went, practiced the violin, and read [[Tacitus]] and [[Homer]]. A keen and diligent student, Jefferson displayed an avid curiosity in all fields and, according to the family tradition, frequently studied fifteen hours a day. His closest college friend, John Page of Rosewell, reported that Jefferson "could tear himself away from his dearest friends to fly to his studies." | | In 1760 Jefferson entered The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia at the age of 16; he studied there for two years, graduating with highest honors in 1762. At William & Mary, he enrolled in the [[philosophy]] school and studied [[mathematics]], [[metaphysics]], and philosophy under Professor William Small, who introduced the enthusiastic Jefferson to the writings of the [[British Empiricists]], including [[John Locke]], [[Francis Bacon]], and [[Isaac Newton]] (Jefferson called them the "three greatest men the world had ever produced"). He also perfected his French, carried his Greek grammar book wherever he went, practiced the violin, and read [[Tacitus]] and [[Homer]]. A keen and diligent student, Jefferson displayed an avid curiosity in all fields and, according to the family tradition, frequently studied fifteen hours a day. His closest college friend, John Page of Rosewell, reported that Jefferson "could tear himself away from his dearest friends to fly to his studies." |