JOHN J. BECKLEY
1802-1807

President Thomas Jefferson decided that the clerk of the House of Representatives would also serve as the Librarian of Congress. On January 29, 1802, he appointed clerk John J. Beckley, a political ally, to serve also as first Librarian of Congress. Beckley, a lawyer, served concurrently in the two positions until his death.

Beckley made several suggestions regarding possible acquisitions by the Library to Jefferson and to members of the Joint Library Committee. He also assisted in the publication of the Library’s first catalog in 1802.

John Beckley was born in England on August 4, 1757, and was sent to Virginia eleven years later to work as a scribe for a mercantile firm. He died on April 8, 1807. His son Alfred inherited a large tract of unsettled land in what today is West Virginia and built the first house in a village that became the city of Beckley, named by Albert to honor his father.