Israel PICKENS, Congress, NC (1780-1827)

PICKENS, Israel, a Representative from North Carolina and a Senator from Alabama; born near Concord, Mecklenburg (now Cabarrus) County, N.C., January 30, 1780; moved to Burke County, N.C.; received instruction from private teachers and graduated from Jefferson College, Canonsburg, Pa., in 1802; studied law; admitted to the bar and practiced; member, North Carolina State senate 1808-1809; elected as a Republican from North Carolina to the Twelfth, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth Congresses (March 4, 1811-March 3, 1817); register of the land office of Mississippi Territory (which included the present State of Alabama) 1817-1821; Governor of Alabama 1821-1825; appointed to the United States Senate from Alabama to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Henry Chambers and served from February 17, 1826, to November 27, 1826, when a successor was elected; was not a candidate for election to the vacancy; declined an appointment as judge of the United States Court for the District of Alabama in 1826; died near Matanzas, Cuba, on April 24, 1827; interment in the family cemetery near Greensboro, Hale County, Ala.

Bibliography

American National Biography; Dictionary of American Biography; Bailey, Hugh C. “Israel Pickens, People’s Politician.” Alabama Review 27 (1964): 83-101; Watson, Elbert L. “Israel Pickens.” In Alabama United States Senators, pp. 27-29. Huntsville, AL: Strode Publishers, 1982.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present