Thomas Picton, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

Thomas Picton

Welsh general who served in the British Army

Date of Birth: 24-Aug-1758

Place of Birth: Haverfordwest, Wales, United Kingdom

Date of Death: 18-Jun-1815

Profession: politician, military officer

Nationality: Wales

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Picton (24 August 1758 – 18 June 1815), a Welsh officer of the British Army, fought in a number of campaigns for Britain in the Napoleonic Wars.
According to the historian Alessandro Barbero, Picton was "respected for his courage and feared for his irascible temperament".
The Duke of Wellington called him "a rough foul-mouthed devil as ever lived", but found him capable. Picton came to public attention initially for his alleged cruelty during his governorship (1797–1803) of Trinidad, as a result of which he was put on trial in England for illegally torturing a woman.
Though he was convicted, the conviction was later overturned. He is chiefly remembered for his exploits under Wellington in the Iberian Peninsular War of 1807–1814, during which he fought in many engagements, displaying great bravery and persistence.
He was killed in 1815 fighting at the Battle of Waterloo, during a crucial bayonet charge in which his division stopped d'Erlon's corps' attack against the allied centre left.
He was the most senior officer to die at Waterloo.
He was a sitting Member of Parliament at the time of his death.