By now you know that my by-word is “Did you know.” My husband, Jack, always said that if two people would stand still for 30 seconds, I would teach them something. So, here is your history lesson for today. Three of the first five Presidents of the United States, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Monroe all died on Independence Day, July 4th.
Adams and Jefferson died on the same day, in the same year… July 4th, 1826. This date also happened to mark the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Adams had once been Jefferson’s political rival, but they reconciled later in life and wrote to each other often. It was reported that Adams last words were, “Thomas Jefferson survives.” He did not know that Jefferson had died just hours earlier. Jefferson died at the age of 83 in Monticello, Virginia and Adams died at 90 in Quincy, Massachusetts.
Five years later on July 4th, 1831, James Monroe passed away at the age of 73. All three men were not just former presidents; they were Founding Fathers…the architects of the very freedom the U.S. celebrates on July 4th.
