George Watterston

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George Watterson

George Watterston (October 23, 1783 – February 4, 1854) was the third United States Librarian of Congress, serving from 1815 to 1829.

Watterston, the son of a builder from Jedburgh, Scotland, was born on board a ship in New York Harbor. When Watterston was eight, his family moved to Washington D.C., his father attracted by the ongoing construction in the capital.

Watterston became a lawyer, first practicing in Hagerstown, Maryland, later partnered with Thomas Law in Washington. He became a man of letters, publishing his first novel, The Lawyer, or Man As He Ought Not to Be, in 1808. Many of his works contained unflattering portrayals of his profession. In 1813, he became editor of the Washington City Gazette.

During the War of 1812, Watterston participated in the failed defense of Washington D.C. The British burned the Capitol, including the Library of Congress, which was then housed in the U.S. Capitol Building. After war's end, Watterston was appointed by President James Madison as Librarian of Congress, the third person to hold the position and the first with that as his sole responsibility. (Previous Librarians also served as the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives). The Library was replenished by purchasing the collection of former President Thomas Jefferson and Watterston organized it based on Jefferson's basic classification scheme.

Watterston was a Whig and active in politics. He opposed the election of President Andrew Jackson and upon Jackson's election was replaced. Watterston fruitlessly sought reinstatement for years.

After his dismissal, he became editor of the National Journal and published books on many subjects, including biographies and works on agriculture. He was instrumental in the campaign to construct the Washington Monument and was secretary of the Washington National Monument Society.