George Watterston
Who was George Watterston?
Librarian of Congress (1783-1854)
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on George Watterston (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
George Watterston was born on October 23, 1783, in New York Harbor and died on February 4, 1854, in Washington, D.C. He was an American attorney, author, and librarian, best known for his work as the third Librarian of Congress from 1815 to 1829. His career combined law, writing, and public service during an important time in American history.
Watterston studied at Charlotte Hall Military Academy in Maryland, which gave him a solid grounding in classical and practical subjects. After finishing his education, he became a lawyer in the Washington area. Alongside his legal career, he wrote several novels and other works that gained some attention in the early 1800s.
In 1815, President James Madison appointed Watterston as the Librarian of Congress, taking over from Patrick Magruder. This appointment came at a challenging time, as the British had burned the Capitol in 1814, destroying the original congressional library. To rebuild the library, Congress bought Thomas Jefferson's book collection, about 6,700 volumes, and Watterston organized and cataloged them. During his 14 years in the role, he worked to professionalize and grow the library's collection.
Despite his efforts, Watterston was removed from his position in 1829 after Andrew Jackson became President. His removal was mainly due to Jackson's use of the spoils system, replacing officeholders with political supporters. With his Whig leanings, Watterston became a vocal critic of Jackson and continued to write and engage in civic life after leaving the library. He wrote for newspapers and periodicals and remained active in Washington's intellectual community.
Later in life, Watterston wrote about Washington, D.C., promoting the city and describing its features. He died there on February 4, 1854, having spent much of his life in the city he worked to promote. His career spanned law, literature, librarianship, and civic involvement, making him a notable figure in early American professional and cultural life.
Before Fame
George Watterston was born on a ship in New York Harbor in October 1783, the year the American Revolutionary War officially ended with the Treaty of Paris. He grew up during the early years of the American republic, when institutions were being established and careers in law and public service offered ambitious young men a chance to succeed. He went to school at Charlotte Hall Military Academy in Maryland, one of the oldest schools in the area, where he gained the education needed for both legal and literary endeavors.
After completing his education, Watterston pursued a career in law and began writing fiction, creating novels that made him part of a small but growing group of American authors trying to build a homegrown literary scene. Being near Washington, D.C., and having a strong professional reputation, he eventually caught the attention of federal officials, leading to his appointment to the Library of Congress in 1815.
Key Achievements
- Served as the third Librarian of Congress from 1815 to 1829, helping to rebuild and organize the institution after the destruction of the original collection in 1814.
- Cataloged and organized Thomas Jefferson's personal library of approximately 6,700 volumes after its purchase by Congress.
- Published multiple novels and literary works, contributing to the development of early American fiction.
- Wrote promotional and descriptive works about Washington, D.C., documenting and advocating for the growing capital city.
- Maintained a prominent role in Washington's intellectual and civic community for several decades spanning the early national period.
Did You Know?
- 01.Watterston was born in New York Harbor, likely aboard a ship, making his birthplace one of the more unusual on record for a prominent American public official.
- 02.He was responsible for organizing the approximately 6,700 volumes that Thomas Jefferson sold to Congress in 1815 to replace the library destroyed by British forces in 1814.
- 03.Watterston wrote several novels, including 'The Lawyer, or Man as He Ought Not to Be,' published in 1808, which drew on satirical observations of the legal profession.
- 04.His removal from the Library of Congress in 1829 became a notable early example of Andrew Jackson's spoils system being applied to a culturally significant federal appointment.
- 05.After losing his post, Watterston wrote guidebooks and descriptive works about Washington, D.C., contributing to how the young capital city presented itself to visitors and potential residents.