Guest post by Forrest Mims
Previously published in the Seguin Gazzette
23 November 2013
Next week’s observance of Thanksgiving might be very different had two amateur scientists not played key roles in drafting the two most important documents in American history.
This wind vane atop the front porch of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello indicates the wind direction on a dial in the ceiling of the porch. Photo by Forrest Mims.
Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence while in Philadelphia in 1776 representing the colony of Virginia. While various editorial changes were made by the delegates, most of Jefferson’s draft was retained.
Fellow Virginian James Madison played a key role in drafting the US Constitution in 1789. The Articles of Confederation adopted by the 13 colonies were not working as hoped, and Madison provided an alternative plan for a more successful union. He also drafted the Bill of Rights.
While in Philadelphia in 1776, Jefferson didn’t allow his historic work on the Declaration of Independence to interrupt his daily temperature measurements, a practice he continued for 50 years. On that historic July 4, 1776, he measured the temperature four times. The high that day was 76 degrees at 1 p.m.
In 1787 Jefferson persuaded his friend and neighbor Madison to acquire a thermometer and join him in monitoring temperature. Together they formed the first US weather network.
For many years Jefferson followed the European practice of measuring the temperature of his unheated bedroom. Madison persuaded him to make measurements outdoors, and the result was a parallel series of measurements that scientists today have found to be remarkably similar to modern measurements at both locations.
Last month my wife Minnie and I again visited Monticello, Jefferson’s plantation home. We also visited Poplar Forest, his retreat after he retired from public life. Around 21 miles northeast of Monticello is Montpelier, the lifelong home of James Madison.
We saw the same scenes both men saw when they were monitoring the climate and experimenting with new agricultural methods and crops after retiring from public life.
Today Monticello visitors can stand in Jefferson’s study, where he analyzed his temperature readings and wrote thousands of letters after serving two terms as President. Montpelier visitors can stand in the second floor library of Madison’s house, where he studied the history of world governments, conceived the Constitution and where he retired after serving two terms as President. Visitors can also stand on the front porches of both homes and Poplar Forest, where regular temperature measurements were faithfully and carefully made more than two centuries ago
In Washington, we visited the National Archives and saw the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The temperature records kept by Jefferson, Madison and their families have been saved by various institutions.
They are impressive reminders of the remarkably diverse intellect of two of the nation’s most significant founders.