Thomas Jefferson’s home – Monticello
Thomas Jefferson loved classical architecture and he loved to tinker and invent. Today he’d be Bill Gates. If you haven’t seen President Jefferson’s home you’ve missed out on a lot. If you ever get a chance, go and visit Monticello.
John Adams, the second President of the United States, was given his father’s name. John was athletic as a youth, and his father noticed he was extremely bright. John loved and excelled at ice-skating, wrestling and swimming. But at an early age he didn’t care too much for books or learning, and saw no sense in talk of college. He wished only to become a farmer.
John’s father, though decided that his son should go to Harvard College and become a minister. John entered college at the then typical-for-the-time young age of 15. Most young men went to Harvard College to learn one of the three prominent vocations taught there. One would become a minister, a teacher, or a lawyer.
When I was in law school, one of our first cases for review in our estate planning class was about a trust which had been written up by Patrick Henry in the 1750’s. His trust was upheld.
But did you know that Patrick Henry became a lawyer just by circumstance? As a young man, Patrick Henry fell in love with a neighbor girl, Sarah Shelton, nicknamed “Sallie.” When they were married, her parents gave them a 300 acre tobacco farm as a wedding gift.
Patrick was 18 at the time, Sarah wasn’t much over 16. Neither knew farming. Patrick grew up in a Merchantile household. Sallie’s parents owned an inn.