When you think about the titans of American history, the names usually feel like they belong on a marble pedestal rather than in a dorm room. But before the Declaration of Independence or the Louisiana Purchase, Thomas Jefferson was just a lanky, red-headed teenager looking for an education. So, where did Thomas Jefferson go to college?
He went to the College of William & Mary. It was 1760. Williamsburg was the bustling capital of Virginia, a place of muddy streets, high-stakes politics, and arguably the most rigorous intellectual environment in the colonies.
Jefferson wasn't your typical freshman. He showed up at seventeen, which was actually a bit older than many of his peers back then. He was coming from a rural background, having studied under local ministers, but he was hungry for something bigger. He found it in a single building—the Wren Building—which basically served as the entire campus at the time.
Why the College of William & Mary Changed Everything
Honestly, William & Mary wasn't just a school for Jefferson; it was an awakening. You have to realize that the college was the second oldest in America, trailing only Harvard. But while Harvard was busy with puritanical roots, William & Mary was steeped in the Enlightenment.
Jefferson entered the "Philosophy School." This wasn't just sitting around thinking deep thoughts. It was a grind. He reportedly studied fifteen hours a day. Imagine that. He’d wake up at dawn, hit the books, and keep going until well after dark. He carried a pocket Greek grammar book with him everywhere. He was obsessed.
He didn't care much for the social scene initially. Williamsburg was a party town. There were taverns, horse racing, and plenty of gambling. Most wealthy young Virginia planters spent their time "gaming" and chasing trouble. Jefferson, though? He mostly stayed in. He later remarked that he was astonished by the "frivolity" of his classmates. He was there for the grit.
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The Influence of William Small
If you want to understand Jefferson’s brain, you have to look at William Small. He was a professor of natural philosophy. Small was a Scotsman, a layman, and a polymath. He was the only member of the faculty who wasn't a clergyman, which is a huge detail.
Small introduced Jefferson to the world of science and the "New Philosophy" of the Enlightenment. We’re talking about John Locke, Francis Bacon, and Isaac Newton. Jefferson called these three the "unholy trinity" of greatness (in a good way). Because Small was so versatile, he taught Jefferson ethics, rhetoric, and physics. This relationship was the spark. Small saw something in the skinny kid from Albemarle County and took him under his wing. It’s one of those rare teacher-student connections that actually changes the trajectory of a country.
Dining with the Elite
College wasn't just about the classroom. Because William Small liked Jefferson so much, he introduced him to two other massive figures in Williamsburg: George Wythe and Governor Francis Fauquier.
These four men—Small, Wythe, Fauquier, and Jefferson—formed a "partie quarree." They frequently dined together at the Governor’s Palace. Think about that for a second. You’re a nineteen-year-old student, and you’re having dinner with the royal governor and the most respected legal mind in the colony.
This was Jefferson’s real education. He learned how to talk power. He learned about European music, high-end wine, and the complexities of colonial law. It was high-level grooming for a life of leadership.
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The Legal Grind and George Wythe
After finishing his basic studies in 1762, Jefferson didn't just leave. He stayed in Williamsburg to study law. Back then, you didn't go to "Law School" in the modern sense. You apprenticed.
He studied under George Wythe. Wythe was a giant. He eventually became the first law professor in America and was a signer of the Declaration of Independence himself. Jefferson spent five years studying with him. Five years! Most guys did it in two.
Jefferson dug deep into the "Coke upon Littleton," a notoriously dense legal text. He hated it. He called it "brier and brambles." But he mastered it. This period shaped his belief in the "Saxon" roots of English law—the idea that people were born free and that kings were an unfortunate later addition. This wasn't just legal theory; it was the blueprint for the American Revolution.
Life in Williamsburg: Taverns and Violins
It wasn't all dusty books, though. Jefferson was a human being. He loved music. He practiced the violin for hours every day. He’d often play at the Governor’s Palace or in the taverns.
He also had his heart broken. There was a girl named Rebecca Burwell. He called her "Belinda" in his letters to friends (very dramatic). He tried to propose to her at a ball in the Apollo Room of the Raleigh Tavern. He botched it. He was so nervous he could barely speak. She ended up marrying someone else, and Jefferson spent weeks with a massive migraine, hiding in his room.
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It’s a comforting thought, really. The man who wrote the Declaration of Independence couldn't get a date in college.
The Lasting Legacy of His College Years
When people ask, "where did Thomas Jefferson go to college?", they often forget that his time at William & Mary never really ended. He stayed involved for life. In 1779, while he was Governor of Virginia, he completely overhauled the college's curriculum.
He abolished the chairs of divinity and oriental languages. He thought the school should focus on things that actually helped people: Law, Medicine, and Modern Languages. He was trying to turn his alma mater into a modern university.
Ultimately, his frustrations with the limitations of William & Mary (and its persistent ties to the Church of England) led him to found the University of Virginia later in life. He wanted a school that was entirely secular, where "the hobby of the state" was education, not religion.
Key Takeaways from Jefferson's Education
- Location: The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.
- Duration: 1760–1762 (Academic), followed by 1762–1767 (Law apprenticeship).
- Mentors: William Small (Science/Philosophy) and George Wythe (Law).
- The Vibe: High-intensity Enlightenment study mixed with high-society dining and occasional tavern music.
If you’re looking to visit the roots of Jefferson’s intellect, you can still go to Williamsburg today. The Wren Building still stands. You can walk the same halls where he worried about his Greek exams and fumbled his marriage proposals.
Moving Forward: How to Apply the Jeffersonian Model
Jefferson’s college experience suggests that who you study with matters more than where you are. He found mentors who challenged his worldview. If you're looking to replicate that kind of deep learning, here is what you can do:
- Seek out a "William Small": Find a mentor who works across disciplines. If you're in tech, talk to a philosopher. If you're in business, talk to an artist.
- The 15-Hour Rule (Modified): You don't need to study 15 hours a day to burn out, but Jefferson proved that "deep work"—total immersion—is how you master a subject.
- Learn the Law of the Land: Even if you aren't a lawyer, understanding the foundational documents of your society (like Jefferson did with the English common law) gives you a massive advantage in navigating the world.
To see the physical evidence of this era, a trip to Colonial Williamsburg is the best next step. You can tour the Wren Building and the Governor's Palace, which provides a vivid, tactile sense of the environment that molded the third president. Seeing the small, cramped quarters where these massive ideas were born puts the entire American project into a much more human perspective.