Memoir, Correspondence, and Miscellanies, From the Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 3

"Memoir, Correspondence, and Miscellanies, From the Papers of Thomas Jefferson" edited by Thomas Jefferson Randolph is a historical account written in the early 19th century. This compilation gathers the personal letters and reflections of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, primarily during his time as Minister to France. The work presents a unique insight into the political climate of the late 18th century, particularly surrounding moments of revolutionary change in France. At the start of this volume, the opening letters reveal Jefferson's concerns regarding communication with key figures like John Jay, as well as the political turbulence unfolding in France during July 1789. He discusses the growing unrest and the implications of events such as the capture of French merchant vessels by Algerines and the potential political ramifications. Jefferson details the revolutionary fervor in Paris, including the escalating tensions between the people and the monarchy, captured vividly in his accounts of food shortages and the public's reaction to the government's ineffectiveness. Through these letters, readers get a window into Jefferson’s perspective on the significant sociopolitical transformations occurring at the time, highlighting his engagement with the revolutionary ideas of the era. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Thomas Jefferson was an American statesman, planter, diplomat, lawyer, architect, philosopher, and Founding Father who served as the third president of the United States from 1801 to 1809. He was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence. Following the American Revolutionary War and before becoming president in 1801, Jefferson was the nation's first U.S. secretary of state under George Washington and then the nation's second vice president under John Adams. Jefferson was a leading proponent of democracy, republicanism, and natural rights, and he produced formative documents and decisions at the state, national, and international levels.