Timothy Pickering spent all of his adult life in the service of his country. One of the few of his peers to actually take up arms, he marched on April 19, 1775 at the head of 300 men to cut off the retreat of the British from Lexington. Appointed by Washington as Quartermaster General in the Revolutionary War, he was present at the battles of Brandywine and Germantown and at Cornwallis’ surrender.

Pickering is the only person to serve three cabinet posts: Secretary of State, Postmaster General, and Secretary of War — which included administration of the Navy and Indian affairs. He oversaw the building of three noble frigates, the “USS Constitution,” “United States,” and “Constellation,” starting a love of things marine for succeeding generations.

Are you a Pickering descendant?
If you want to know more about your family tree, we have a few resources you may want to check out here.