PICKETT, James C., commissioner of patents, born in Fauquier county, Virginia, 6 February, 1793; died in Washington, D. C., 10 July, 1872. He removed with his parents to Mason county, Kentucky, in 1796, and received a good education. He became 3d lieutenant of United States artillery in 1813, and was pro- "rooted 2d lieutenant in 1814, but left the service at the close of the war with England. He served again as deputy quartermaster-general from 1818 till 1821, when he resigned, returned to Mason county, and practised law. He edited the "Maysville Eagle" in 1815, was a member of the legislature in 1822, secretary of the state from 1825 till 1828, and secretary of legation in Colombia from 1829 till 1833, acting part of the time as charge d'affaires. He was commissioner of the United States patent-office in 1835, fourth auditor of the treasury in 1835-'8, minister to Ecuador in 1838, and charge d'affaires in Peru from 1838 till 1845. For a few years he edited "The Congressional Globe" in Washington, D. C.