ANDREW PICKENS was born in Edgefield County, South Carolina. He attended the College of New Jersey (Princeton University). He served as a Lieutenant Colonel with several infantry units during the War of 1812 and commanded one of the regiments raised by South Carolina for the defense of Charleston. Prior to his election as governor, he was a Presidential Elector from North Carolina. During his gubernatorial administration, a program of extensive infrastructure improvements was undertaken in South Carolina, starting with the appointment of an engineer to superintend public buildings and oversee civilian and military works. In addition, cotton prices rose to an all-time high on Pickens’s watch as the state’s chief executive. After leaving office, Pickens moved to Alabama, where he engaged in cotton planting. He was appointed president of the Alabama State Bank, and served as an agent to the Creek Indians in 1820. He died in Pontotock, Mississippi.