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George Edward Pickett was born on January 25, 1825, in Richmond , Virginia. He graduated last in a class of 59, from the U.S. Military Academy, Class of 1846 ,Infantry .During the Mexican War, he received the brevet of first Lieutenant for gallant service at Contreras and Churubusco. He received the brevet of Lieutenant for distinguished service at Chapultepec, after carrying the regimental colors over the walls of the castle.

Following the Mexican War, Captain Pickett was assigned to various posts in the West, including command of Company K, Eighth Infantry at Fort Bliss, Texas . In June, 1855, he had a tour of duty in command of an Army garrison at Whatcom, Washington Territory. In 1859 he was involved in the so called "Pig War", a border dispute with the British at San Juan Island. Captain Pickett performed well, refusing to yield to the British.

He resigned from the U.S. Army on June 25, 1861, to join the Confederacy, and was appointed a Colonel in the Confederate Army, on July 23. Colonel Pickett served on the Rappahannock in the Department of Fredericksburg, and the Aquia District, Department of Northern Virginia. On January 14, 1862, Pickett was appointed as brigadier-general, and commanded a brigade in General Longstreet's division, under General Joseph E. Johnston. He joined the main army for the Peninsula Campaign , and led his brigade in battle at Williamsburg, Seven Pines, and Gaines's Mill, where he suffered a shoulder wound that would keep him out of action until fall. Pickett returned to the army and was appointed Major General, in command of a division in the Army of Northern Virginia.

After seeing light action at the first Fredericksburg campaign, he next served in Longstreet's Tidewater Campaign in southeastern Virginia. In July, 1863 at the Battle of Gettysburg, General Pickett would lead his division in the heroic and heartbreaking attempt on the Union center line, known forever as Pickett's Charge.

After Gettysburg, in September, 1863, General Pickett was sent to North Carolina where he commanded the Department of North Carolina. He distinguished himself in the defense of Drewry's Bluff and then rejoined Lee's Army of Northern Virginia at Cold Harbor. Pickett served in the Richmond - Petersburg Campaign, and was one of the principle commanders at Dinwiddie Court House, and Five Forks, where he lost nearly his entire division. Because of his actions at Five Forks, he was relieved of command by Lee the day before the surrender, but he surrendered with the army the next day, April 9, 1865 at Appomattox Court House.

Following the Civil War, Pickett fled to Canada to avoid prosecution for actions he took against Union captives from North Carolina, at New Berne, returning to the United States when pardoned by General Grant. He suffered from severe depression, having never gotten over the loss of his division at Gettysburg. He refused offers of commands from Egypt, and the United States, and settled in Norfolk, Virginia, where he entered the insurance business. George Pickett died on July 30, 1875.