Undoubtedly brighter and more competent than most of his colleagues at the time. Extremely intelligent, he was the true giant of American intellectualism.

This is a great list. How shameful that so many know almost nothing of these men. I'm with Irish, applying today's moral standards to Jefferson is really a waste of effort. He was flawed, like all men are, but he accomplished incredibly, unfathomably great things in spite of his personal limitations. It has become popular culture to criticize this icon of American history by implying he wasn't perfect as he held slaves, and didn't manage his money responsibly. Phew. In looking back, we're all fortunate he was up to the task of writing some of the most beautiful, and historically enduring prose mankind has ever produced. A brilliant and courageous man, whose mark in history will never be forgotten.

Magnificently complex figure and one of the true towering intellects of American history. Judging his mores and foibles in the context of today is utterly ludicrous. It can be argued that without Jefferson, there is no America.

Jefferson's complexities (slavery, religion, political philosophy) make him all the more fascinating a figure in the signing of the Declaration. Of course, his authorship alone merits a high rating. . .the Declaration was a magnificent crown jewel document of the Enlightenment Era.