Jefferson, Thomas

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) was the author of the Declaration of Independence, local politician, foreign minister, U.S. secretary of state, vice-president, president, plantation owner, enslaver, and mentor of William Short. Jefferson became acquainted with Short while the latter was a student at the College of William and Mary. As their relationship grew, Jefferson referred to Short as his "adoptive son" and arranged for him to serve as secretary when Jefferson travelled to Paris to serve as minister plenipotentiary there in 1784. Although Jefferson had hoped Short would eventually move to Albemarle County, Virginia, to be close to him and James Monroe, Short remained in Paris when Jefferson left in 1789. Short did acquire land in the area, Indian Camp, and Jefferson maintained it for him while Short was in Europe. It was here that Short proposed an alternative to slavery, hoping to establish free blacks as tenant farmers. Short's letters to Jefferson on the subject illustrate differences that somewhat strained their relationship. Jefferson and Short were related by marriage: two of Jefferson's wife Martha's half-sisters married two of Short's uncles, Henry and Robert Skipwith.