William Pickering (governor)
William Pickering (March 15, 1798 – April 22, 1873) was an English-born American politician who served as the fifth governor of Washington territory, from 1862 to 1866.In 1862 President Lincoln offered him the choice of being either part of the United States Ministry in England or Governor of the Washington territory, known at the time as the territory of Columbia.Pickering chose the governorship, and he moved to the territorial capital, Olympia, in June 1862, and served as governor until 1866.Under the leadership of Territorial Governor William Pickering, the government took responsibility for the care of the mentally ill.[4] Pickering was an active member of St. John's Episcopal Church in Olympia, serving in a leadership role in its founding as a parish in 1866.