PICTON, SIR THOMAS (1758-1815), British general, born at Poyston, Pembrokeshire, joined the army in 1773 as an ensign. On the disbandment of the 75th regiment in 1783 Picton quelled a mutiny amongst the men by his prompt personal action and courage. After living in retirement on his father's estate for nearly twelve years, he went out to the West Indies in 1794. He took part in the capture of St. Lucia (for which he was promoted lieutenant-colonel) and in that of St. Vincent. After the reduc tion of Trinidad Abercromby made him governor of the island. He administered the island with such success that the inhabitants petitioned against the retrocession of the island to Spain. In October 1801 he was gazetted brigadier-general. But by this time the rigour of his government, as reported by his enemies, had led to a demand by humanitarians at home for his removal. He was charged with permitting the application of torture under the Spanish law which he had to administer. Colonel William Fullarton (1754-1808) procured the appointment of a commis sion to govern the island, with Picton as its junior member. Picton resigned, and on his return to England in December 1803 he was arrested by order of the privy council. He was tried in the court of king's bench before Lord Ellenborough in 1806 on one of the charges, on which the court returned a merely technical verdict of guilty, which was superseded in 1808 by a special verdict on retrial. In 1810, at Wellington's request, he was appointed to command a division in Spain. For the remaining years of the Peninsular War, Picton was one of Wellington's prin cipal subordinates. The commander-in-chief, it is true, never re posed in him the confidence that he gave to Beresford, Hill and Craufurd, but in the resolute, thorough and punctual execution of a well-defined task Picton had no superior in the army. His
debut was unfortunate. On the Coa in July 1810 Craufurd's division became involved in an action, and Picton, his nearest neighbour, refused to support him, as Wellington's direct orders were to avoid an engagement. Details of the incident will be found in Oman, Peninsular W ar, vol. iii. Shortly after this, how ever, at Busaco, Picton found and used his first great opportunity for distinction. He repulsed the French attack with skill and resolution. He fought at Fuentes d'Onor, with Craufurd he stormed the breaches at Ciudad Rodrigo, and in command of the 3rd division was at the storming of Badajoz. Wounds compelled a temporary absence in England, but he again commanded the 3rd division at Vittoria, in the battles of the Pyrenees, and at Orthez and Toulouse.
On June 24, 1814, Picton received for the seventh time the thanks of the House of Commons for his great services and in 1815 he was made a G.C.B. Picton was severely wounded at Quatre Bras, but concealed his wound and retained command of his troops, and at Waterloo, two days later, was shot through the head by a musket ball. His body was brought home to London, and buried in the family vault at St. George's, Hanover Square. A monument was erected to his memory in St. Paul's Cathedral.
See Robinson's Life of Sir Thomas Picton (London, 1836), with which, however, compare Napier's and Oman's histories of the Peninsular War as to controversial points.