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If television had been around in the 18th and 19th centuries, Thomas Jefferson would have been a natural choice for a Dos Equis commercial. Known as a writer, winemaker, astronomer, gourmet cook, and even a fossil hunter, Jefferson was undoubtedly one of the most captivating figures of his time. Here are nine of his most beloved hobbies.
1. Inventing
Much like Benjamin Franklin, the “Sage of Monticello” had an exceptional talent for invention. Among his creations was an innovative plow designed to dig deeper into the earth than traditional models.
2. Mockingbird Caretaking
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Thomas Jefferson kept several mockingbirds, but one particularly lively male named “Dick” became his favorite. Eyewitnesses recall that the charming bird was often free to fly around the presidential office, occasionally resting on Jefferson's shoulder.
3. Astronomy
In 1811, Jefferson wrote a detailed description of a solar eclipse he had witnessed through a specially designed telescope. During his presidency, he directed Meriwether Lewis to carefully observe and document the stars' movements as he ventured through lands acquired in the Louisiana Purchase.
4. Playing the Violin
“[Music] is the favorite passion of my soul,” Jefferson once wrote. His talent with the violin won the heart of Martha Wayles Skelton, who adored listening to the future president play. They later married in 1772. Their romance inspired the beautiful song, “He Plays the Violin,” which was featured in the Tony Award-winning musical 1776.
5. Architecture
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Jefferson's architectural designs can be seen in buildings such as his Monticello home, the Virginia State Capitol, and the rotunda at the University of Virginia, known for its stunning beauty.
6. Gardening and Horticulture
Jefferson's vast garden boasted an impressive collection of 330 varieties of vegetables and 170 types of fruit, many of which were rarely, if ever, cultivated in the United States before, such as lima beans and tomatoes.
7. Mathematics
In his youth, Jefferson eagerly delved into complex mathematical equations but found them increasingly challenging as he grew older. In a letter to future Treasury Secretary William Duane in 1812, he confessed, “When I was young, mathematics was the passion of my life. The same passion has returned upon me, but in unequal powers. Processes which I then read off with the facility of common discourse, now cost me labor, time, and slow investigation.”
8. Passionate Book-Collecting
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When Jefferson’s father, Peter, passed away in 1757, his library contained only 42 books. By 1814, however, his collection had expanded to an astounding 6487 volumes, which was enough to replenish the Library of Congress after it was destroyed by the British during their raid of Washington D.C. This wasn’t a simple donation, though—the government paid Jefferson $23,950 for his library.
9. Mastodon Fossil Hunting
Jefferson’s fascination with fossils was so intense that a giant prehistoric ground sloth species was named after him: Megalonyx jeffersonii. He also arranged for notable mastodon specimens to be shipped to the White House, some of which were later donated to the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia.
