{ { Infobox officeholder
| name = Allan Bowie Magruder
| jr/sr1 = United States Senator
| state1 = Louisiana
| term_start1 = September 3, 1812
| term_end1 = March 3, 1813
| predecessor1 = Seat established
| successor1 = Eligius Fromentin
| office2 =
| birth_date = 1775
| birth_place = Virginia or Kentucky
| death_date = April 16, 1822 (aged 47) | death_place = Opelousas, Louisiana | party = Democratic-Republican | occupation = Poet, historian, lawyer, politician }} Allan Bowie Magruder (1775April 16, 1822) was an American poet, historian, lawyer, and politician, who served as a United States Senator from Louisiana from September 3, 1812, to March 3, 1813.
Early life
Allan Bowie Magruder was born in either Virginia or Kentucky in 1775, the son of George Frazer Magruder (1733-1801) and Eleanor Bowie (1742-1793). George Frazer Magruder was a great-grandson of Alexander Magruder (1610-1676), a Scotsman who immigrated to Maryland as an indentured servant after being captured in the Battle of Worcester. The Magruder surname has been spelled various ways. Allan pursued an academic course in the common schools of Kentucky, and then studied law. In 1791, Allan requested Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson’s help in obtaining a clerkship in the War Treasury Department. Allan was admitted to the bar in 1796 or 1797 in Lexington, Kentucky, where he practiced law.
Early literary career
Magruder was one of Kentucky’s first poets, and his poetry was published in the Kentucky Gazette from 1802 to 1803. His poetry attracted attention in the Western United States. No more than three or four of his poems survive.
Magruder, also a historian, wrote an essay titled The Character of Thomas Jefferson in 1800, first appearing in the Kentucky Gazette. It was widely reprinted, and, in 1803, reappeared in a Kentucky periodical called The Medley. Magruder authored a 150-page volume titled Reflections on the Late Cessions of Louisiana to the United States in 1803. In his work, which he dedicated to President Jefferson, Magruder “described the political, agricultural, and commercial advantages of Louisiana,” and the future of the newly acquired territory's economic development. Some views Magruder expressed in his work include the relocation of Native Americans, as well as the colonization of freed African-Americans. In his work, Magruder also expressed his belief that Cuba would one day be under the control of the United States. Magruder sent his work to Jefferson, as evidenced by a letter he wrote to him before February 7, 1804:
Magruder next considered the possibility of writing a history of the Indian Wars. His book plan was highly publicized, and Magruder obtained material for the work. Magruder and President Jefferson are known to have corresponded on this subject. Simultaneously, Magruder also considered writing, and collected material for, a history of Kentucky. Magruder also considered writing a biography of George Rogers Clark.
End of literary career and early political career
Magruder's earlier essay on Thomas Jefferson likely caused Jefferson, as president, to appoint Magruder Commissioner of Lands in Orleans Territory, now Louisiana, in July 1805. However, this caused Magruder, in August, to suspend his research on his three most recent literary projects, which would remain unfinished. Magruder chose to turn over his material for his history of Kentucky to his friend, John Bradford, who used them to write Notes on Kentucky. Magruder relocated to Opelousas, Louisiana, in St. Landry Parish, in order to fulfill his new government job. As a federal agent, Magruder investigated land claims in Louisiana, but was dismissed in 1806, possibly as a result of intemperance.
In 1806, the Kentucky Gazette printed Magruder's observations on Native American battles, ceremonial customs, religion, likely drawn from his earlier research on the subject of the Indian Wars.
When Magruder was not involved in politics in Louisiana, he practiced law.