George Pickett

George Edward Pickett 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, Picketts Charge.

Pickett was born in his grandfathers shop in Richmond, Virginia, the first of the eight children of Robert and Mary Pickett, a prominent family of Old Virginia of English origins, and one of the first families of Virginia. He was the cousin of future Confederate general Henry Heth. He went to Springfield, Illinois, to study law, but at the age ofhe was appointed to the United States Military Academy. Legend has it that Picketts West Point appointment was secured for him by Abraham Lincoln, but this is largely believed to be a story circulated by his widow following his death. Lincoln, as an Illinois state legislator, could not nominate candidates, although he did give the young man advice after he was accepted Pickett was actually appointed by Illinois Congressman John T. Stuart, a friend of Picketts uncle and a law partner of Lincoln.

Source: Wikipedia