| 1743 |
|
Born at Shadwell, Albemarle County, Virginia, April 13. |
| 1745 |
|
"Poplar Forest" mentioned in early land records. |
| 1749 |
|
"Poplar Forest" appeared on early land plat. |
| 1760 |
|
Entered College of William and Mary in Williamsburg. |
| 1767 |
|
Begins practicing law in Albemarle County. |
| 1769 |
|
Construction begins on house at Monticello. |
| 1769 |
|
Becomes a member of House of Burgesses. |
| 1772 |
|
Marries Martha Wayles Skelton in January.
Daughter Martha born in September. |
| 1773 |
|
Visits Poplar Forest for the first time in September after his wife inherited the plantation following the death of her father, John Wayles. |
| 1774 |
|
Patents (purchases) land that includes Natural Bridge. |
| 1775 |
|
Elected to Continental Congress. |
| 1776 |
|
Writes Declaration of Independence. |
| 1778 |
|
Daughter Mary (Maria) born in August. |
| 1779 |
|
Elected Governor of Virginia |
| 1781 |
|
Jefferson and family in seclusion at Poplar Forest after British invasion of Monticello. He works on Notes on the State of Virginia, his only published book. |
| 1782 |
|
Wife Martha dies. |
| 1785 |
|
Appointed Minister to France. Stays for five years. |
| 1786 |
|
Virginia adopts Statute for Religious Freedom, which Jefferson authors. |
| 1789 |
|
Returns from France. |
| 1790 |
|
Appointed Secretary of State by President George Washington. |
| 1791 |
|
Becomes a grandfather for the first time. |
| 1796 |
|
Elected Vice President of the United States under John Adams. |
| 1797 |
|
Elected president of the American Philosophical Society. |
| 1801 |
|
Elected President of the United States by the House of Representatives.
Grandson Francis Eppes VII is born. |
| 1803 |
|
Approves negotiations for the Louisiana Purchase.
Launches Lewis & Clark expedition. |
| 1804 |
|
Re-elected President for a second term.
Daughter Maria Jefferson Eppes died. |
| 1805 |
|
Lewis & Clark expedition reaches the Pacific Coast.
Jefferson sends mason Hugh Chisolm to Poplar Forest to begin making bricks for the retreat. |
| 1806 |
|
Construction begins on the octagonal retreat at Poplar Forest |
| 1809 |
|
Leaves Washington, D.C. following his second term as President, concluding 40 years in public service. Never leaves Virginia again.
Stays in main house at Poplar Forest for the first time. |
| 1811 |
|
Becomes a great-grandfather for the first time. |
| 1812 |
|
Considers Poplar Forest basically "complete". |
| 1814 |
|
Wing of offices built. |
| 1815 |
|
Personal library sold to serve as the nucleus for the new Library of Congress. |
|
|
Andrew Jackson visits Poplar Forest. |
|
|
Visits the Peaks of Otter to make a "geometricaal [sic] measurement". |
| 1816 |
|
Jefferson's granddaughters Ellen and Cornelia Randolph visit Poplar Forest for the first time. |
| 1817 |
|
Visits Natural Bridge with granddaughters. |
| 1819 |
|
Founds the University of Virginia. |
| 1821 |
|
Transfers management of all his plantations to grandson, Thomas Jefferson Randolph. |
| 1822 |
|
Francis Eppes marries Mary Elizabeth Cleland Randolph. |
| 1823 |
|
Grandson Francis Eppes and wife Elizabeth begin residence at Poplar Forest. Jefferson visits Poplar Forest for the final time in the spring. |
| 1825 |
|
Fire causes minor damage to house. |
| 1826 |
|
Dies July 4 at Monticello at age 83. Eppes inherits Poplar Forest and 1,074 acres. |
| 1828 |
|
Eppes sells Poplar Forest and moves his family to Florida. William Cobbs becomes the new owner; his daughter Emily marries Edward Sixtus Hutter; property remains in the Cobb-Hutter family until 1946. |
