Thomas Jefferson: Biography And Biography Of The Philosopher

Biography of the Philosopher

Thomas Jefferson was born in Virginia on April 13, 1743 (Gutek, 2011). Both his mother and father were from well to do families (Gutek, 2011). He was raised on the Shadwell plantation estate where his family owned about 40 slaves and was a part of Virginia’s most wealthiest and prestigious families (Gutek, 2011). His formal education began at five years old with private tutelage, as was the way of southern plantation owners at the time (Gutek, 2011). Later at the age of nine years old, he attended a Latin grammar boarding school run by an Anglican clergyman named William Douglas (Gutek, 2011). Jefferson learned Greek, Latin and French and after having learned these languages, he was able to read the classics in their original language, not needing translations (Gutek, 2011).

The death of Jefferson’s father when he was fourteen years old did not keep him from continuing his education in Fredericksburg, VA, under Rev. James Maury also an Anglican minister (Gutek, 2011). While Maury stressed the traditional Latin and Greek classical curriculum Jefferson also studied English Literature and history (Gutek, 2011). He received instruction in the doctrine of the Church of England from both Anglican Rev. Douglas and Rev. Maury but later as an adult; he expressed doubt in the divine inspiration of Christian doctrines (Gutek, 2011). Jefferson attended William and Mary College at seventeen where he enrolled in the philosophy school, because he needed no further “classical” education (Gutek, 2011). Six out of seven of the professors at William and Mary were Anglican ministers and the seventh professor was Dr. William Small. Jefferson spoke well of Dr. Small, his adviser whom he was fond and who taught m...

... middle of paper ...

... daily activities of man. He had deistic belief in God and rejected the belief in divinely inspired text.

Personal Observation

All of Jefferson’s early education came from Anglican ministers and he learned of the doctrine of the Church of England from them. I think that his observation of the behaviors displayed by the Crown of England towards others while proclaiming Christianity may have turned him away from organized religion. I am ashamed to admit how surprised I was to be just now learning that Thomas Jefferson was not the Christian I was first taught he was. This whole chapter put a big dent in my biggest argument on some of the founding fathers’ position on Religion and education.

Reference

Gutek, G. L. (2011). Historical and philosophical foundations of education: a biographical introduction (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.