Born on September 22, 1737, in Newington, Province of New Hampshire, British America,[1] Pickering graduated from Harvard University in 1761 and read law.
[1] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 11, 1795, and received his commission the same day.
[2]: 488 [3] On February 3, 1803, President Thomas Jefferson sent evidence to the United States House of Representatives against Pickering, accusing him of having made unlawful rulings and being of bad moral character due to intoxication while on the bench.
The House voted to impeach Pickering on March 2, 1803, on charges of drunkenness and unlawful rulings.
The Senate convicted Pickering of all charges by a vote of 19 to 7 on March 12, 1804, thereby immediately removing him from office.