Get Free U.S. Shipping on Selected Adoption Products for a Limited Time! Start Shopping Now.

Short, William

Currently 0/5 Stars.
1
2
3
4
5

You may use the stars on the left to rate and leave feedback for the current article. No registration is required. Waiting for 5 votes

Short was the adopted son (or possibly protégé) of President Thomas Jefferson. He was born into a well-to-do planter family in Virginia.

He helped found the US academic honor society Phi Beta Kappa, served his father as secretary in France and as later as chargé d'affaires; and was US diplomat to Russia, Spain and the Netherlands until 1810. He was also a member of the Virginia Council of State. After retiring from the diplomatic service he became a very wealthy landowner.

References

Shackelford, George Green. Jefferson's Adoptive Son: The Life of William Short, 1759-1848. (Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1993)
Dictionary of American Biography