Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson (April 13 (April 2 O.S.), 1743 – July 4, 1826) was the third (1801–1809) President of the United States, second (1797–1801) Vice President, first (1789–1795) United States Secretary of State, and an American statesman, ambassador to France, political philosopher, revolutionary, agriculturalist, horticulturist, land owner, architect, archaeologist, slaveowner, author, inventor, lawyer and founder of the University of Virginia.

Influences

Jefferson was influenced heavily by the ideas of the Polish Brethren. Englishman John Biddle had translated two works by one of the Polish Brethren, Samuel Przypkowski; he also translated the Racovian Catechism and a work by J. Stegmann, a Polish Brother from Germany. Biddle's followers had very close relations with the Polish Socinian family of Crellius (aka Spinowski). Biddle was a pioneer of Unitarianism in England. Subsequently, many of the ideas of the Polish Brethren were continued in English-speaking countries by Unitarian congregations -- most notably, by Joseph Priestley, who had emigrated to the U.S. and was a friend of both James Madison and Jefferson.

Related Topics:
Polish Brethren - John Biddle - Samuel Przypkowski - Racovian Catechism - Socinian - Unitarianism - Joseph Priestley

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Jefferson had and read Wawrzyniec Grzymala Goslicki's book De optimo senatore, and in his works paraphrased some of Goslicki's phrases from the book.

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Jefferson's political principles were also heavily influenced by John Locke (particularly relating to the principles of inalienable rights and popular sovereignty) and Thomas Paine's Common Sense.

Related Topics:
John Locke - Inalienable rights - Popular sovereignty - Thomas Paine - Common Sense

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