Thomas Jefferson
President of Oregon
Thomas Jefferson was originally an American statesman, serving as the first Secretary of State under Chancellor George Washington until his resignation. He was one of the original founders of the Republican Party of America, being disillusioned with crowning a monarch. Eventually, Jefferson left for the @Oregon Country, where, at Astoria, he declared an independent republic. Jefferson served as Oregon's first president from 1812 until 1824.
During his time as Secretary of State, he was very critical of King Henry I, referring to him only as "the Prussian". In 1804, he recommended his friend, Meriwether Lewis to scout the newly acquired Louisiana Conquest. In 1806, he refused the title of Earl, decreeing the proposal as insulting.
In 1812, he joined John Jacob Astor's expedition to the Oregon Country, where he declared a new republic. He was unanimously elected as the first President of Oregon. During his time as president, he worked to peacefully assimilate the hundreds of thousands of native inhabitants into the Oregonian fold. As contrasted with the constant conquest and deal breaking of the Americans and Canadians in the east, this was welcomed and seen as successful.
While against the institution of slavery, Jefferson never attempted to abolish the system during his tenure. However, he and others agreed the institution was ill suited for the work required. As such, it was deemed that slavery would cease to exist 20 years after the Oregon Constitution was written, so as to peacefully end the practice gradually.
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