Harriet Hemings

Biography

Harriet Hemings (May 1801 – after 1822) was born into slavery at Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States, in the first year of his presidency. Most historians believe her father was Jefferson, who is believed to have fathered, with his slave Sarah "Sally" Hemings, four children who survived to adulthood. Additional samples of Thomas Jefferson's hair were identified in the 21st century and were used to create a Jefferson DNA profile, against which those of known descendants of Hemings’ younger brothers were compared.

Explore Wikipedia contributors ↗