He and his companion, Saugrain, went to the United States as agents for a society which sought to found a new community on the banks of the Ohio River (1787).

Recommended to Franklin by Joseph-Ignace Guillotin, the brother-in-law of Saugrain, who hoped to eventually settle with his family at this new community, which he envisioned would be a place where men could live in peace and liberty.

Picque and Saugrain apparently met with Franklin upon their arrival in Philadelphia. They traveled to Pittsburgh and then set out by boat to scout the banks of the Ohio. By Saugrain’s account, on the sixth day, their party was attacked by “savages,” and Picque was killed.