On July 4, 1776, Thomas Jefferson, the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, recorded the temperature four times, with the temperature ranging from 68 to 76 degrees throughout the day.
A Day of Mundane Tasks
Despite the historic significance of the day, Jefferson’s personal records show that he engaged in mundane tasks, including purchasing a thermometer from John Sparhawk, an apothecary and bookseller, for three pounds and 15 shillings, and buying seven pairs of women’s gloves for 17 shillings.
Historians have offered various explanations for Jefferson’s ability to attend to these personal matters on such a momentous day, including the possibility that he was not as heavily involved in the Continental Congress’s activities as some of his colleagues.
A Glimpse into Jefferson’s Personal Life
Jefferson’s records also provide a glimpse into his personal life, including a clerical error in which he noted that he paid for riding expenses on ‘June 31,’ a date that does not exist.
Historians have speculated that this error may have been due to turmoil in Jefferson’s personal life, including the fact that his wife, Martha, suffered a miscarriage in June 1776 while he was away in Philadelphia drafting the Declaration of Independence.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
