A bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson stands in Paris on the banks of the Seine in the 7th Arrondissement. The 10-foot-tall statue was dedicated on July 4, 2006, the 230th anniversary of American Independence.
From 1784 to 1789, Jefferson represented the United States in Paris, playing a lead role in shaping American foreign policy during that time. Jefferson was a supporter of the French Revolution although he was opposed to its most violent elements. He was in France when the storming of the Bastille took place. Jefferson also maintained a close friendship with the Marquis de Lafayette, and he consulted with Lafayette during the drafting of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.
The present day statue that was created by French sculptor Jean Cardot depicts Jefferson with a quill pen in one hand and a drawing of Monticello in the other hand.
Learn more via Monticello: Jefferson stands tall in Paris
Photos by Dewey Rodefer.
