Lieutenant-General
1758-1815
Commissioned into the 12th Foot in 1771,
he had risen to major via several regiments by 1795. Serving in
the West Indies under Abercromby, he took part in the captures
of St. Lucia and Trinidad (1796-97). After some years as military
governor of the latter, in 1801 he became civil governor as well,
but resigned over charges concerning the use of torture. Promoted
to
brigadier general in 1801 and to major general in 1808, he took
part in the siege of Flushing during the Walcheren campaign (1809)
and then was invalided home. Next year he joined the army in Portugal,
and was given command of the 3rd Division by Wellington. Picton
fought at Bussaco and Torres Vedras, then headed the pursuit of
Massena and took a prominent part in the battle of Fuentes de
Onoro (1811). He was in charge of the final siege of Badajoz in
1812 and was severely wounded in the storming. he was knighted,
and in 1813 promoted to lieutenant general. His division played
a leading role at Vitoria (1813). Seven time he received the thanks
of the House of Commons for his military services, but in 1814
he was not raised to the peerage. In 1815 he commanded the veteran
5th Division during the Campaign of the Hundred Days, fighting
at Quatre Bras. On 18 June he was killed leading his men to the
charge at Waterloo. Picton was renowned for his eccentricity of
dress. He preferred to wear civilian clothes rather than army
uniform and was reported as fighting at Busaco in his night-cap
and wearing a top hat and carrying an umbrella at Waterloo.
