Thomas Jefferson Wants His Young Relative to Be Well Received at Harvard, Where Jefferson Himself Held An Honorary Degree

He writes his friend and Secretary of War Henry Dearborn, saying any favors done for the young man will be considered favors done for him personally; The letter has undertones of family, friendship, and generosity

Jefferson left the Executive Mansion on March 4, 1809, and returned to Monticello. There, away from the demands of the presidency, he was able to spend more time with his family and in his own personal pursuits. However, he also maintained a lively correspondence with notable people about the issues of the day, most particularly the on-and-off dispute with England that would result in the War of 1812 just three years later.

One of those with whom he continued to correspond was Gen. Henry Dearborn, who had served as his Secretary of War throughout his two terms as President. In 1809, Dearborn was an influential resident of Boston, MA, having been appointed Collector of Customs in that great port.

Jefferson held an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Harvard College, having been awarded it in 1787. The following year Harvard’s president, Joseph Willard, sent the document to Jefferson with a letter stating, "I embrace the favorable opportunity…to send your Excellency a Diploma for a Doctorate of Laws, which was conferred by Harvard University, in this place…” The place was Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard’s locale for well over 300 years.

Thomas Mann Randolph was the son of Jefferson’s lifelong friend Thomas Mann Randolph, and the younger half-brother of Jefferson’s son-in-law of the same name. He lived in Richmond, in the home that later became the White House of the Confederacy. The young man visited Monticello in 1809 and was very warmly received by Jefferson. On September 15, 1809, Randolph, who was 17 years old and matriculating at Harvard College, followed up his visit with a request of Jefferson. “Dear Sir! Being about to leave this for the purpose of entering Harvard College, I take the liberty of soliciting from you a line of introduction…”

Jefferson was more than willing to assist the young man by making some connections on his behalf. In addition to Dearborn, who lived just 9 miles from Cambridge, Jefferson determined to enlist the help of Elbridge Gerry, a fellow signer of the Declaration of Independence and a strong political supporter of Jefferson, who actually lived in Cambridge. Gerry would serve as vice president of the United States from 1813 until his death. So Jefferson wrote two letters of recommendation for Randolph, one to Dearborn and one to Gerry.

His letter to Gerry is in the Massachusetts Historical Society.  This is his letter to Dearborn, the survival of which was not previously known, full of warmth and color.

Autograph letter signed, Monticello, October 9, 1809, expressing his closeness to the Randolph family and his interest in the young man’s welfare, stating his views on what character traits are most of value in a young person, and informing Dearborn that any favor done Randolph will be considered a favor done for himself. “The bearer of this is Mr. Thomas M. Randolph, half brother of my son in law of that name whom you know. He is proceeding to Harvard college to enter there as a student. Having lived at a distance from me, I can say little of him from my personal knowledge, but I am authorized by those in whom I have confidence to say that he is a youth of good dispositions & correct conduct. His father was my most intimate friend, having been brought up together almost from the cradle. From these different considerations I feel a just interest in his welfare, & take the liberty of presenting him to you, as he will be in a land of strangers. Any countenance you shall be so good as to show him, or counsel you shall give him, will be considered as a favor done to…yours affectionately, Th. Jefferson.” There is a docket of receipt on the verso.

So Jefferson, himself a holder of a degree from Harvard, smooths the way to Harvard for the son of his childhood friend, who is now related to him by marriage. Moreover, the letter has undertones of family and friendship, generosity and character assessment, in addition to its relation to the college. Just a wonderful (and uncommon) personal letter of Jefferson.

A search of the National Archives website “Founder’s Online” indicates that only about a dozen letters written by Jefferson mention Harvard, and a number of these are known to be in institutions. Moreover, a search of public records going back 40 years fails to find even one having reached the market. This is thus one of a very few, if not the only, Jefferson letter mentioning Harvard in private hands.