Artist: Mather Brown, 1786

Thomas Jefferson, a man of many facets, was a scientist, Enlightenment philosopher, statesman, diplomat, and president, whose achievements have made him one of the most complex and accomplished personalities in American history. He is credited with authoring the Declaration of Independence and during his first term as president in 1803, he masterminded the Louisiana Purchase, effectively doubling the size of the United States and establishing the nation as a continental power. However, this territorial expansion brought into sharp focus the issue of slavery, which was the foundation of the U.S. economy at the time. Jefferson, who himself enslaved over six hundred African Americans in his lifetime, struggled to reconcile his philosophical beliefs with his dependence on bondage.

In 1786, while serving as the United States minister to France, Jefferson visited his friend and fellow diplomat John Adams, who was then the U.S. minister to Great Britain. During his visit, Adams suggested that Jefferson sit for a portrait by Mather Brown, a Boston-born artist who was then residing in London. This painting, which is the earliest known image of Jefferson, is a remarkable record of his early life and accomplishments.