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 wasn’t involved in politics in Louisiana, he practiced law. Eventually, Magruder was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives. In 1811, Magruder was elected to be a delegate to the Louisiana Constitutional Convention. He chaired the committee tasked to write the state’s constitution. The constitution was modeled after the Constitution of Kentucky, Magruder’s home state, however, a Bill of Rights was excluded, the law system was based on civil law, and instead of counties, the state was divided in parishes. The constitution was drafted on January 22, 1812, and Louisiana became a state on April 30, 1812. Magruder was chosen as one of two agents to exhibit the constitution to President James Madison. U.S. Senate (1812-1813) In September 1812, Magruder, a Democratic-Republican, receiving 21 votes, was elected by the Louisiana State Legislature to be one of Louisiana's first two United States Senators in the 12th United States Congress along with Jean Noel Destrehan. They took office on September 3, 1812. Magruder served as a United States Senator from Louisiana from September 3, 1812, to March 3, 1813. Lots were drawn to determine the class