George Watterston (October 23, 1783 – February 4, 1854) was an American attorney and writer who was the third Librarian of the United States Congress from 1815 to 1829.

Watterston received a private education and graduated from the Charlotte Hall Military Academy in St. Mary's County, Maryland.

After war's end, President James Madison appointed Watterston as Librarian of Congress, the third person to hold the position and the first with that as his sole responsibility.

Watterston gave the collection's books bookplates and labels and kept them organized according to Jefferson's basic classification scheme.

After his dismissal, Watterston became editor of the National Journal and published books on many subjects, including biographies and works on agriculture.

[6][7] In 1820, Watterston owned four enslaved people,[8] but only one in 1830 (a woman in her 30s, and a free black man of similar age also lived with the family).