Patrick Magruder

Patrick Magruder (1768 – December 24, 1819[1]) was the second Librarian of the United States Congress, serving from 1807 to 1815.

Patrick Magruder
2nd Librarian of Congress
In office 1807–1815
Preceded by	John J. Beckley
Succeeded by	George Watterston
Personal details
Born	Patrick Magruder 1768 Montgomery County, Maryland
Died	December 24, 1819 (aged 50–51) Petersburg, Virginia
Alma mater	Princeton University

Biography

Magruder was born on his family's estate, Locust Grove, near Rockville in the Province of Maryland.[2] Magruder attended Princeton College and became a lawyer.[2] In 1805, he was elected to the Ninth United States Congress from the third district of Maryland. After the death of John J. Beckley, President Jefferson appointed Magruder to the dual post of Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Librarian of Congress.[3] The posts were not separated until 1815.[3] During the War of 1812, the British burned Washington D.C., including the Library of Congress, which was then housed in the US Capitol Building. After an investigation by Congress into the destruction of the Library and the use of Library funds, Magruder resigned. He died and was buried on his family's ancestral estate, Sweden, near Petersburg in Dinwiddie County, Virginia.[3]

References

1. Dictionary of American Library Biography. (1978). Bohdan Wynar, ed. "Magruder, Patrick (1768-1819)." Littleton, Colorado: Libraries Unlimited. pp. 337–339. ISBN 0-87287-180-0
2. "Magruder, Patrick, (1768 - 1819)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. United States Congress. M000057. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
3. "Patrick Magruder (1768-1819)". Library of Congress. Retrieved April 14, 2018.

External links

• John Y. Cole (March 30, 2006). "Jefferson's Legacy: A Brief History of the Library of Congress -- Librarians of Congress". Library of Congress. Retrieved December 15, 2008.