[tanknetter]

You do understand that he owned a plantation, right?

Having been to Monticello on numerous occasions, yes I do. However, in thinking of how ownership of a plantation would equate to him being an "entrepreneur" the old saying "and if my grandmother had wheels she'd be a wagon" comes to mind.

Jefferson's approach to business, as his approach to his other endeavors (government service) was decidedly academic in nature and very idealistic to boot (although saying that may be redundant). Montecello was very much a plaything to him, and the financial state in which he departed life is a testament to that.

[OldDeckHand]

"However, in thinking of how ownership of a plantation would equate to him being an "entrepreneur" the old saying "and if my grandmother had wheels she'd be a wagon" comes to mind. "

I'm puzzled why you believe that engaging in private enterprise somehow isn't entrepreneurial. I believe it is, and I think most would agree. And, the larger point that I was making in my post was that virtually all the Founding Fathers had at least some private enterprise experience, and many were incredibly successful businessmen.

"...was decidedly academic in nature and very idealistic to boot "

Again, I'm puzzled. Why would an entrepreneur not be allowed to be idealistic or academic?

If you look at the enduring silicon valley business stories, many of the most successful entrepreneurs were not only accomplished academics, but idealists as well. Sergey Brinn and Andy Grove, come to mind immediately. In America, academia has frequently been the great incubator to many of our entrepreneurial achievements. If you examine America's greatest inventor - Edison, IMO - you're going to find a man who was wildly idealistic, on of the most active free thinkers of his generation.