Jefferson, Thomas

Jefferson, Thomas ( 1743 – 1826 )
US Democratic Republican statesman, 3rd President of the USA ( 1801 – 09 ). Jefferson was the principal drafter of the Declaration of Independence ( 1776 ) and played a key role in the American leadership during the War of Independence. He advocated decentralization and the restrained use of presidential power, in defiance of Alexander Hamilton. While President, Jefferson secured the Louisiana Purchase ( 1803 ), by which the western part of the Mississippi valley was sold to the USA by France.