Bushra Griffith
Thomas Jefferson, the 3rd President of the United States, was a lover of cheese. He was presented with a giant cheese wheel, dubbed the Cheshire Mammoth Cheese, by the citizens of Cheshire, Massachusetts, in 1802. This cheese was made from the milk of 900 cows and measured a whopping four feet in diameter and 15-17 inches in height, weighing 1,235 pounds. Jefferson was also rumoured to enjoy macaroni and cheese and was a fan of Parmesan.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Enjoyed | Macaroni and cheese |
| Ice cream | |
| French fries | |
| Champagne | |
| Parmesan | |
| Introduced to America | Macaroni and cheese |
| Ice cream | |
| French fries | |
| Champagne | |
| Presented with | Mammoth cheese |
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What You'll Learn
Thomas Jefferson was rumoured to enjoy macaroni and cheese
Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, was rumoured to be a fan of macaroni and cheese. This love of mac and cheese may be related to his love of Parmesan. Jefferson was an avid fan of cheese, and it is speculated that he introduced mac and cheese to the US.
The story of the "Cheshire Mammoth Cheese" or the "Mammoth Cheese" supports this claim. In 1801, Jefferson received an enormous gift from the citizens of Cheshire, Massachusetts: a 1235-pound wheel of cheese, which was carted down Pennsylvania Avenue to the President's House. This gift was an initiative of Baptist Elder John Leland, a Jefferson supporter, to show his respect for Jefferson's election victory. The cheese was made from the milk of 900 cows and was pressed in an outsized cider press. It was also engraved with the patriotic motto, "Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God".
The Mammoth Cheese was an important political statement. In a letter to Jefferson, Leland pointed out that the cheese was made "without the assistance of a single slave", a clear jab at Jefferson, who was a slave owner. Leland also insisted that no milk from a cow owned by a Federalist farmer be used, "lest it should leaven the whole lump with a distasteful savour".
The Mammoth Cheese became a celebrity in its own right, with newspapers across New England and the mid-Atlantic states following its journey. It was displayed in the East Room of the White House, the largest reception room, and served to guests. The cheese inspired future similar events, such as an even larger cheese presented to President Andrew Jackson in 1835, and a recurring event on the TV show The West Wing, entitled "Big Block of Cheese Day".
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Jefferson received a gift of a 1235-pound wheel of cheese in 1802
Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, received a gift of a 1235-pound wheel of cheese in 1802. This cheese, known as the Cheshire Mammoth Cheese, was presented to Jefferson on January 1, 1802, by Reverend John Leland and the townspeople of Cheshire, Massachusetts.
Leland, who believed that his efforts had helped Jefferson win the presidency, encouraged the townspeople to make this unique gesture as an act of "profound respect" and as a way to celebrate the "popular ratification of his election." The cheese was produced solely by the labour of freeborn farmers in Cheshire, with the voluntary help of their wives and daughters, and notably, "without the assistance of a single slave."
The process of making the cheese began with Leland urging each member of his congregation who owned a cow to contribute the milk given by their cow on a specific day. According to Dumas Malone's biography of Jefferson, the milk of 900 cows was used to make the cheese. The townspeople brought their milk and curd to a cider mill, where a large hoop was placed on a cider press, resulting in a massive cheese press. The final product weighed 1235 pounds (560 kg), was 4 feet (1.2 m) wide, and 15 inches (380 mm) thick.
Due to its size, transporting the cheese to Washington, D.C., presented a challenge. It could not be safely transported on wheels, so the town hired a sleigh to bring it to a barge on the Hudson River. From there, it floated to New York City and was then loaded onto a sloop and taken to Baltimore, Maryland. Finally, it was placed on a horse-drawn wagon for the last leg of the journey to Washington, D.C. The three-week, 500-mile journey became a notable event, with word spreading from town to town about the gift.
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The Mammoth Cheese was made without the assistance of a single slave
Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, was presented with a unique gift from the citizens of Cheshire, Massachusetts, on New Year's Day in 1802. It was an enormous wheel of cheese, dubbed the "Cheshire Mammoth Cheese" or the "Mammoth Cheese", which had become a national celebrity by the time it arrived at the President's House. The cheese was the brainchild of Baptist Elder John Leland, a Jefferson supporter, who encouraged each member of his congregation with a cow to contribute milk or curd to create this massive cheese.
Leland's intention behind this gesture was to show profound respect for Jefferson's election victory and to make a political statement. In a letter to President Jefferson, Leland emphasised that the Mammoth Cheese was made "without the assistance of a single slave". Instead, it was produced solely by the persons and labour of freeborn farmers of Cheshire, with the voluntary help of their wives and daughters. This was particularly noteworthy as it was presented to Thomas Jefferson, a slave-owning president.
The final product was a massive cheese press, measuring four feet wide, 15 to 17 inches high, and weighing an estimated 1,235 pounds (560 kg). Due to its impressive size, the Mammoth Cheese had to be transported on a sleigh to a barge, then loaded onto a sloop and finally placed on a horse-drawn wagon for its journey to Washington, D.C. The three-week, 500-mile journey from Cheshire to Washington became an event in itself, with word spreading about the gift from town to town.
The Mammoth Cheese served as an extraordinary tribute to President Jefferson and also highlighted the skill and industry of the citizens of Cheshire. Jefferson himself praised the cheese as an "extraordinary proof" of the citizens' skill in domestic arts. The Mammoth Cheese has since inspired similar events, such as the presentation of another mammoth cheese to President Andrew Jackson in 1835 and the "Big Block of Cheese Day" on the TV show "The West Wing".
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Jefferson's love of mac and cheese extended to Parmesan
Thomas Jefferson, the 3rd President and 2nd Vice President of the United States, was a man of many tastes and interests. Among his culinary preferences, Jefferson had a particular fondness for macaroni and cheese. This love for mac and cheese extended to a broader appreciation for Parmesan cheese as well.
Jefferson's appreciation for macaroni and cheese is well-documented, with rumours suggesting that he enjoyed this dish during his time. In fact, some sources indicate that Jefferson may have played a role in introducing macaroni and cheese to the United States, though the specific types of cheese and pasta used during that time remain a matter of speculation.
Jefferson's culinary interests extended beyond mac and cheese, as he was also known to have a sweet tooth for ice cream. His obsession with this frozen treat contributed to its surge in popularity across the United States. Additionally, Jefferson is credited with introducing French fries to America, though they didn't gain widespread popularity until the 1900s.
The story of the "Cheshire Mammoth Cheese" further illustrates Jefferson's love for cheese. In 1802, Jefferson received an enormous wheel of cheese as a gift from the citizens of Cheshire, Massachusetts. This cheese, weighing approximately 1,235 pounds and measuring over 4 feet in diameter, was crafted from the milk of 900 cows. The gift was intended as a political statement, emphasising that it was produced without "the assistance of a single slave."
The Mammoth Cheese became a celebrity of sorts, attracting attention as it travelled from Cheshire to Washington, D.C. via sleigh, sloop, and wagon. Upon receiving the gift, Jefferson praised the act as an "extraordinary proof" of the citizens' skill and domestic arts. The cheese was served to guests at the White House, and its remnants were reportedly either consumed a year later or discarded into the Potomac River.
Jefferson's appreciation for mac and cheese, along with his fondness for Parmesan, showcases his diverse culinary tastes and his role in shaping American culinary preferences. His legacy extends beyond his political achievements, as he left an indelible mark on the culinary landscape of the nation he helped shape.
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Jefferson's guests ate the Mammoth Cheese for a year
Thomas Jefferson, the 3rd President of the United States, was presented with an enormous wheel of cheese, dubbed the "Mammoth Cheese", on New Year's Day, 1802. The cheese, which weighed 1,235 pounds and measured 4 feet in diameter and 15 inches in thickness, was a gift from the citizens of Cheshire, Massachusetts. It was created during the summer of 1801 and had become a national celebrity by the time it arrived at the President's House, with newspapers across New England and the mid-Atlantic states following its progress.
The Mammoth Cheese was produced by the citizens of Cheshire, led by Reverend John Leland, to show their support for Jefferson's election. They believed that the cheese, made without the labour of a single slave, demonstrated the superior resources and industry of free farmers in the United States. The cheese was transported on a sleigh, barge, sloop, and horse-drawn wagon over a three-week, 500-mile journey from Cheshire to Washington, D.C.
The presentation of the Mammoth Cheese to Jefferson was a significant event. Jefferson praised the act as an "extraordinary proof of the skill" of the citizens of Cheshire and cut a piece of the cheese to present back to the town. The cheese inspired poetry, satire, and puns, as well as proposals for other mammoth-sized foods. It also sparked criticism and ridicule from Federalists, who saw it as a ludicrous example of democratic excess and Jeffersonian idolatry.
While it is not entirely clear what ultimately happened to the Mammoth Cheese, it appears that Jefferson's guests were still eating it a year later. One story suggests that its remains were eventually thrown into the Potomac River. The Mammoth Cheese inspired similar events in the future, including the presentation of another mammoth cheese to President Andrew Jackson in 1835 and 1837, and it became the subject of various cultural works, such as a novel, a children's book, and an episode of the television drama "The West Wing".
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Thomas Jefferson was a fan of cheese. In 1802, he received a 1235-pound block of cheese, dubbed the "Cheshire Mammoth Cheese", from the citizens of Cheshire, Massachusetts.
The "Cheshire Mammoth Cheese" was consumed by Jefferson's guests over a year. One story suggests that the remains were thrown into the Potomac River.
It is rumoured that Thomas Jefferson introduced macaroni and cheese to the US. He was also a fan of Parmesan cheese.
