“It is our duty still to endeavor to avoid war; but if it shall actually take place, no matter by whom brought on, we must defend ourselves. If our house be on fire, without inquiring whether it was fired from within or without, we must try to extinguish it.”

Third President of the United States and Founding Father of the American Republic, Jefferson’s influence spanned politics, philosophy, and architecture. He drafted the Declaration of Independence and championed democratic ideals while also overseeing the Louisiana Purchase, doubling the nation’s territory. His writings on education, science, and governance remain foundational to American thought.