Conflicts in the Life of Thomas Jefferson
CARL BINGER M.D.1
1 Honorary psychiatric consultant, Harvard University Health Services
Thomas Jefferson achieved what the author considers an extraordinary mastery of his life, which was, however, not devoid of conflicts. Dr. Binger describes Jefferson's inner struggle relating to the separation of the colonies from Britain, his depressive withdrawal when his wife was seriously ill and their infant son died, his unhappiness and indignation following his censure by the Virginia legislature for failure to call out the militia during a period of emergency, and his and Alexander Hamilton's mutual hostility.
