when did thomas jefferson die
Thomas Jefferson died on July 4, 1826. This date marked the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, which he primarily authored.
Key Facts
- Exact Time and Place : He passed away around 12:50 p.m. at his Monticello estate in Virginia, after battling health issues like a urinary tract infection and chronic pain, often managed with laudanum.
- Age at Death : Jefferson was 83 years old, having been born on April 13, 1743.
- Final Moments : Remarkably lucid near the end, he repeatedly asked if it was the Fourth of July, confirming the date before slipping away.
Historical Coincidence
Jefferson's death occurred just hours before his rival and friend, John Adams, also died on July 4, 1826—creating one of history's most poignant alignments for two Founding Fathers.
"Thomas Jefferson survives." – John Adams' last words, unaware Jefferson had predeceased him by hours.
Health Decline
In his final months, Jefferson endured worsening ailments:
- Severe diarrhea and urination difficulties by early 1826.
- Bedridden by June, entering a stupor by July.
- He even spoke to his enslaved domestic workers around 4 a.m. on his last day.
This event closed an era, as no other Declaration signers remained. No credible recent news alters this; a 2025 Reddit post joking about his "282nd birthday" was clearly satirical.
TL;DR : July 4, 1826, at Monticello—same day as John Adams.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.