Albert J. Pickett
Encyclopedia
Albert James Pickett was a planter and lawyer in Autauga County, Alabama
, and is known as Alabama
's first historian.
At the age of 8, Pickett moved with his father, William R. Pickett to the frontier of Autauga County, ceded to the United States
by the Creek Indians in the Treaty of Fort Jackson
only four years earlier. William Pickett built a home near Autaugaville
and a mill building and trader's post on Swift Creek. Growing up, Albert befriended many of the Creek and frontier traders that frequented his father's store. From them he began to piece together the early history of the state which he later determined to put into writing.
Pickett studied law, but never practiced professionally, instead devoting his time to literature, agriculture and historical research. He traveled widely and corresponded with archivists and book dealers in the Atlantic states and Europe in order to document various parts of his history of the state. The two-volume History of Alabama was published in Charleston, South Carolina
in 1851. Pickett was working on a comprehensive history of the Southwest
at the time of his death.
Autauga County, Alabama
Autauga County is a county in the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2010 census the population was 54,571. Its county seat is Prattville.Autauga County is part of the Montgomery Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, and is known as Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
's first historian.
At the age of 8, Pickett moved with his father, William R. Pickett to the frontier of Autauga County, ceded to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by the Creek Indians in the Treaty of Fort Jackson
Treaty of Fort Jackson
The Treaty of Fort Jackson was signed on August 9, 1814 at Fort Jackson near Wetumpka, Alabama following the defeat of the Red Stick resistance by United States allied forces at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. It occurred on the banks of the Tallapoosa River near the present city of Alexander City,...
only four years earlier. William Pickett built a home near Autaugaville
Autaugaville, Alabama
Autaugaville is a town in Autauga County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 820. According to the 2008 U.S. Census estimates, the town had a population of 870. It is part of the Montgomery Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
and a mill building and trader's post on Swift Creek. Growing up, Albert befriended many of the Creek and frontier traders that frequented his father's store. From them he began to piece together the early history of the state which he later determined to put into writing.
Pickett studied law, but never practiced professionally, instead devoting his time to literature, agriculture and historical research. He traveled widely and corresponded with archivists and book dealers in the Atlantic states and Europe in order to document various parts of his history of the state. The two-volume History of Alabama was published in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
in 1851. Pickett was working on a comprehensive history of the Southwest
Southwestern United States
The Southwestern United States is a region defined in different ways by different sources. Broad definitions include nearly a quarter of the United States, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah...
at the time of his death.