 Fifty years later, on July 4th, 1826, two of the greatest founding fathers, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, would both pass away. Jefferson had written his own epitaph, listing what he wanted to be remembered for. The author of the Declaration of American Independence, author of the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom, and the father of the University of Virginia. Prior to his own death, John Adams was asked for a post to commemorate the upcoming 50th anniversary of American independence.