These are the words that Thomas Jefferson wrote for his epitaph. They indicate what he thought were his life achievements. What is notable here is that he does not mention that he was secretary of state, vice president, and president. These political accomplishments were not at the top of his list.

Jefferson was born in Shadwell, Virginia. His father, Peter Jefferson, was a self-taught surveyor and mapmaker. Thomas was sent to William and Mary College in the colony's capital, Williamsburg. Jefferson took to the law under the tutelage of George Wythe. It should be noted that Thomas Jefferson had wide-ranging intellectual interests (as evidenced by the personal libraries he assembled that included natural philosophy...