In 1776 Thomas Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence, kick-starting the movement against British rule and putting in place the foundations for democracy in what became the United States of America. But he was a man of contradictions. He argued passionately against slavery but was a slave-owner. He had a relationship with an enslaved woman, Sally Hemings which may have started in France when she was just fourteen. He became the third President of the United States, and he loved philosophy, nature and wine.
Jimmy Wales first-learned of Jefferson and the founding fathers when he was in school. The founder of Wikipedia fell in love with Encyclopaedias when his Mother bought a set from a travelling salesman. Jimmy's fascinated by Jefferson's political principles and intrigued by his many contradictions, and with the help of Kathleen Burk they discuss Jefferson's political legacy and how his attitudes to slavery are impacting on how he's seen today.
Presenter: Matthew Parris Guest: Jimmy Wales Guest expert: Kathleen Burk, Professor Emerita of Modern and Contemporary History at University College London Producer: Toby Field for BBC Audio Bristol
George Lascelles, 7th Earl of Harewood nominated by Lesley Garrett
Romy Gill on poet Amrita Pritam
Rosalind Franklin picked by Kate Bingham, former head of the UK government's vaccine taskforce
Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw, Educationalist
Ravi Shankar, India's famous sitar player
Holly Walsh on BS Johnson
Pat Nevin on Johan Cruyff
Judy Garland
Joan Rhodes, strongest woman in the world
Rob Newman on Franklin D Roosevelt
Mr Manchester Tony Wilson nominated by Terry Christian
Gil Scott-Heron
Lolita Chakrabarti on actor Ira Aldridge
Janet Ellis on Puffin editor Kaye Webb
Tom Hopkinson, editor of Picture Post
Brian Cox on Lindsay Anderson
Spike Milligan
Roma Agrawal on Mrinalini Sarabhai
Lady Hale on Lady Rhondda
William Lever, Lord Leverhulme, founder of Unilever
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Modern West
Global News Podcast
Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4
The Infinite Monkey Cage
You’re Dead to Me
Elis James and John Robins