Student Commentary

On April 13, 1598, French King Henry IV promulgated the Edict of Nantes, giving equal rights to French Protestants (Huguenots) and Catholics. Review the complete text of the Edict in French and read the Edict translated into English.

On April 13, 1743, Thomas Jefferson was born in Albemarle County in the Virginia Colony. Jefferson went on to become, among other things, the third President of the United States, the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, and a founder of the Democratic-Republican Party. Jefferson was also responsible for reforming the laws of Virginia after independence from Great Britain.