Patrick Magruder Explained

Birth Name:Patrick Magruder
Order:2nd
Office:Librarian of Congress
President:Thomas Jefferson
James Madison
Term Start:December 26, 1807
Term End:January 18, 1815
Predecessor:John J. Beckley
Successor:George Watterston
State2:Maryland
Term Start2:March 4, 1805
Term End2:March 3, 1807
Predecessor2:Thomas Plater
Successor2:Philip B. Key
Birth Place:Rockville, Maryland
Death Place:Petersburg, Virginia
Spouse:Sarah Turner, Martha Goodwyn
Alma Mater:Princeton University
Party:Democratic-Republican
Children:Theophilus, Louisa, Edmund, Patrick, Adelina, Napolean
Occupation:Lawyer, politician, librarian

Patrick Magruder (1768 – December 24, 1819[1]) was an American lawyer, politician, and librarian who served as a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland’s 3rd congressional District from March 4, 1805, to March 3, 1807, and as the 2nd Librarian of the United States Congress, from December 26, 1807, to January 18, 1815.

Biography

Patrick Magruder was born on his family's estate, Locust Grove, near Rockville in the Province of Maryland, in 1768, the son of Samuel Wade Magruder (1731-1792), and Lucy Beall (1738-1795). Patrick Magruder was the great-grandson of Samuel Magruder (1654-1711), the son of Alexander “the Immigrant” Magruder (1610-1676).[2] Patrick Magruder attended Princeton College and became a lawyer.[3] In 1804, he was elected to be a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland’s 3rd congressional District, and served from March 4, 1805, to March 3, 1807. After the death of John J. Beckley, President Thomas 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. Magruder served as the 2nd Librarian of the United States Congress from December 26, 1807, to January 18, 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 its funds, Magruder resigned. He died December 24, 1819, in Petersburg, Virginia, and was buried on his family's ancestral estate, Sweden, near Petersburg in Dinwiddie County, Virginia.[4] [5] Magruder, who first married Sarah Turner, and then Martha Goodwyn, had six children: Theophilus, Louisa, Edmund, Patrick, Adelina, and Napolean.

References

  1. Dictionary of American Library Biography. (1978). Bohdan Wynar, ed. "Magruder, Patrick (1768-1819)." Littleton, Colorado: Libraries Unlimited. pp. 337 - 339.
  2. Book: Magruder, Egbert Watson . Year Book of American Clan Gregor Society . Surber-Arundale Company . 1921 . Charlottesville, Virginia.
  3. Web site: Magruder, Patrick, (1768 - 1819). United States Congress. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. April 14, 2018. M000057.
  4. Web site: Patrick Magruder (1768-1819). Library of Congress. April 14, 2018.
  5. Web site: Patrick Magruder (1768-1819) - Find a Grave... . 2022-07-10 . www.findagrave.com . en.

External links