George Watterston

George Watterston ( born October 23, 1783 in New York City; † February 4, 1854 ) was from 1815 to 1829, the third head of the Library of Congress ( U.S. Library of Congress ).

Watterston was born the son of Scottish immigrants on a ship in New York harbor. Since the age of eight the Watterstons lived in Washington. As a lawyer, he later worked in Hagerstown and Washington; at the same time he worked as a writer and published in 1808 his first novel, " The Lawyer, or Man As He Ought Not to Be. " In 1813 he became editor of the newspaper " Washington City Gazette".

After the War of 1812 Watterston was appointed by President James Madison to the librarian of Congress. As the first he took that function full-time. Under his leadership, the library was expanded, especially through the acquisition of the collection of former President Thomas Jefferson.

After the election of President Andrew Jackson was Watterston, who was politically active in the Whig Party, replaced, while he struggled unsuccessfully. He was editor of the " National Journal " and has published numerous books on various topics, including agriculture.

Beckley | Magruder | Watterston | Meehan | Stephenson | Spofford | Young | Putnam | MacLeish | Evans | Mumford | Boorstin | Billington

  • Head of the Library of Congress
  • Lawyer ( United States)
  • Americans
  • Born in 1783
  • Died in 1854
  • Man
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