Owner removes Picton plaque from townhouse in statues row
APROPERTY-OWNER has removed a blue plaque commemorating a hero of the Battle of Waterloo due to his involvement in the slave trade.
The plaque on the three-storey townhouse in Haverfordwest marks the birthplace of Sir Thomas Picton.
Picton’s mother went into labour during a visit to the house in 1758. It was the home of the land-owning Laugharne family and later became a hotel.
But the owner of the historic house, which has been converted into flats, fears the plaque may be targeted after calls to remove statues to “Tyrant of Trinidad” Picton.
It comes after English Heritage announced it will be looking at London’s 950 plaques – updating them to include information on those involved in slavery.
The Mayor of Haverfordwest believes the plaque should go on display at Haverfordwest Town Museum from next year.
Lieutenant-General Picton was hailed as a war hero when he became the highest-ranking officer to die at the Battle of Waterloo, aged 56.
The Duke of Wellington called him “a rough foul-mouthed devil as ever lived” but “very capable”.
But he was also a man who executed dozens of slaves during his time as Governor of Trinidad – and authorised the torture of a 14-yearold girl.
Calls have also been made for a marble statue of Picton to be ripped out of Cardiff City Hall.
Dan De’Ath, the first black mayor of Cardiff, wrote a letter outlining reasons for the controversial figure to be taken down.
He said: “I feel that it is no longer acceptable for Picton’s statue to be amongst the ‘Heroes of Wales’ in City Hall.”
And Picton’s nine-times greatgrandson Aled Thomas, 28, admitted to being “rather embarrassed” to be a descendant of the military man.
He backed calls for the statue to be moved to a museum in a letter to Cardiff council.
Mr Thomas said: “While I am related to the Picton family, I do not defend the cruelty that Sir Thomas Picton caused.
“In fact, I feel rather embarrassed to admit I am related to him.
“We cannot help where we are from and who we are descended from. Also, we cannot change what has happened in the past. But what we can do is learn from them.”
Picton is still the only Welshman to be buried at St Paul’s Cathedral.
In 1806 he was convicted of ordering the illegal torture of 14-year-old girl Luisa Calderón, who was accused of stealing.
He admitted to the charge but the conviction was later overturned.
He returned to Britain and was a sitting MP when he was killed by Napoleon’s troops in 1815.