Timothy Pickering
| Timothy Pickering | |
|---|---|
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| 3rd United States Secretary of State | |
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In office December 10, 1795 – May 12, 1800 |
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| President |
George Washington John Adams |
| Preceded by | Edmund Randolph |
| Succeeded by | John Marshall |
| 2nd United States Secretary of War | |
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In office January 2, 1795 – December 10, 1795 |
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| President | George Washington |
| Preceded by | Henry Knox |
| Succeeded by | James McHenry |
| 2nd United States Postmaster General | |
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In office August 12, 1791 – January 1, 1795 |
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| President | George Washington |
| Preceded by | Samuel Osgood |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Habersham |
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United States Senator from Massachusetts |
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In office March 4, 1803 – March 3, 1811 |
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| Preceded by | Dwight Foster |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Bradley Varnum |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 2nd district |
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In office March 4, 1815 – March 3, 1817 |
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| Preceded by | William Reed |
| Succeeded by | Nathaniel Silsbee |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 3rd district |
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In office March 4, 1813 – March 3, 1815 |
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| Preceded by | Leonard White |
| Succeeded by | Jeremiah Nelson |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
July 17, 1745 Salem, Massachusetts |
| Died | January 29, 1829 (aged 83) Salem, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Political party | Federalist |
| Alma mater | Harvard University |
| Religion | Unitarianism |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Service/branch |
Massachusetts militia Continental Army United States Army |
| Years of service | 1766–1785 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Battles/wars | American Revolutionary War |
Timothy Pickering (July 17, 1745 – January 29, 1829) was a politician from Massachusetts who served in a variety of roles, most notably as the third United States Secretary of State, serving in that office from 1795 to 1800 under Presidents George Washington and John Adams. Biographer Gerald Clarfield says he was a "quick-tempered, self-righteous, frank, and aggressive Anglophile," who handled the French poorly. In response the French envoy Pierre Adet repeatedly provoked Pickering into embarrassing situations, then ridiculed his blunderings and blusterings to appeal to Republican Party opponents of the Administration.
Pickering served in the Massachusetts militia and Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He is often remembered for his Anglophile attitudes, and pushed for pro-British policies during his political career. Pickering famously described the country as "The World's last hope - Britain's Fast-anchored Isle" during the Napoleonic Wars. Along with most other Federalists he opposed the War of 1812. Pickering ruined his political career when he became involved with the Hartford Convention of 1815.
Pickering was born in Salem, Massachusetts to Deacon Timothy and Mary Wingate Pickering. He was one of nine children and the younger brother of John Pickering (not to be confused with the New Hampshire judge) who would eventually serve as Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He attended grammar school in Salem and graduated from Harvard University in 1763. Salem minister William Bentley noted on Pickering: "From his youth his townsmen proclaim him assuming, turbulent, & headstrong."
After graduating from Harvard, Pickering returned to Salem where he began working for John Higginson, the town clerk and Essex County register of deeds. Pickering was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1768 and, in 1774, he succeeded Higginson as register of deeds. Soon after, he was elected to represent Salem in the Massachusetts General Court and served as a justice in the Essex County Court of Common Pleas. On April 8, 1776, he married Rebecca White of Salem.
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