It was July 4, 1776 and the final draft of the Declaration of Independence was ready to be ratified. It was hot in the room at the Pennsylvania State House. Dilettante scientist Thomas Jefferson was taking temperature readings with his thermometer and kept detailed notes about the heat. It was 68 degrees Fahrenheit at 6 a.m., 76 by 1 p.m. and still a warm 73 and one-half degrees at 9 p.m.
Other than recording the temperature throughout the day, Jefferson didn’t take many other notes about the proceedings.
