George Pickett

Major General George Pickett
General Pickett
Birth name	George Edward Pickett
Born	January 16, 1825 Richmond, Virginia
Died	July 30, 1875(1875-07-30) (aged 50) Norfolk, Virginia
Place of burial	Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia
Allegiance	United States of America Confederate States of America
Service/branch	United States Army Confederate States Army
Years of service	1846–61 (USA) 1861–65 (CSA)
Rank	Captain (USA) Major General (CSA)
Commands held	Pickett's Division, First Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
Battles/wars	Mexican–American War Battle of Chapultepec Pig War American Civil War Peninsula Campaign Battle of Fredericksburg Suffolk Campaign Battle of Gettysburg Pickett's Charge Second Battle of Petersburg Appomattox Campaign Battle of Five Forks
Relations	Henry Heth (cousin)

George Edward Pickett (January 16, 1825 – July 30, 1875) was a career United States Army officer who became a major general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He is best remembered for his participation in the futile and bloody Confederate offensive on the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg that bears his name, Pickett's Charge.

Pickett graduated last out of 59 cadets in the West Point Class of 1846. He served as a second lieutenant in the United States Army during the Mexican-American War, and is noted for his service in the Battle of Chapultepec in September 1847. After this, he served in the Washington Territory, and eventually reached the rank of captain. Pickett participated in the Pig War of 1859. Near the beginning of the American Civil War, he enlisted in the Confederate Army, and he attained the rank of brigadier general in January 1862. He commanded a brigade that saw heavy action during the Peninsula Campaign of 1862. Pickett was wounded at the Battle of Gaines's Mill on June 27.