Smithsonian DNA Study Confirms Jefferson Fathered Children with Sally Hemings
A 15-year Smithsonian-led study using ancient DNA techniques on Thomas Jefferson’s hair has provided 'extraordinary proof' that he fathered children with enslaved woman Sally Hemings. The findings, detailed in a new book and pending scientific paper, compare Jefferson’s genome with descendants of Hemings’s sons, showing a paternity probability of over 99.9%. While the research has advanced forensic DNA methods, it faces criticism over the premature release of results before peer review and the withdrawal of a key descendant’s consent.