Patrick Magruder

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

Biography

Magruder was born on his family’s estate, Locust Grove, near Rockville in Montgomery County, Maryland. Magruder attended Princeton College and became a lawyer. 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. (The posts were not separated until 1815.) 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 was buried on his family’s ancestral estate, Sweden, near Petersburg in Dinwiddie County, Virginia.

References

• Patrick Magruder at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Thomas Plater	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland's 3rd congressional district March 4, 1805 – March 3, 1807	Succeeded by Philip B. Key
Cultural offices
Preceded by John J. Beckley	Librarian of Congress 1807–1815	Succeeded by George Watterston