About Harriet Pickens
Lived 1909 – 1969 (aged 59–60). Harriet Pickens was an American naval officer.
Harriet Pickens (17 March 1909 – 1969) was an American naval officer and administrator. With Frances Wills, she was one of the first two African American women commissioned by the United States Navy, and the first to achieve the rank of lieutenant.
At the time of her enlistment in the Navy, Pickens was working as an executive secretary at the Harlem Tuberculosis and Health Committee. She suffered a stroke and died in New York in 1969.
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Important facts
People in Harriet Pickens's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Harriet Pickens's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Harriet Pickens?
American Naval officer and administrator (1909–1969)
When was Harriet Pickens born?
Harriet Pickens was born in 1909.
When did Harriet Pickens die?
Harriet Pickens died in 1969.
What was Harriet Pickens's occupation?
Harriet Pickens was a naval officer.
What nationality was Harriet Pickens?
Harriet Pickens was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Harriet Pickens. https://biography.guide/harriet-pickens/
MLA: "Harriet Pickens." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/harriet-pickens/.
Chicago: "Harriet Pickens." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/harriet-pickens/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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