Capture of Badojos. Sir Thomas Picton taking the enemy by surprise and capturing their batteries, 1812

Lithograph by J Atkinson, published by R Ackermann's Lithography, 1 June 1817. From a series of sixteen lithographs, 'incidents of British bravery during the late campaigns on the continent. Graphically illustrated in a series of drawings on stone'.

The Siege of Badajoz was one of the bloodiest in the Napoleonic Wars of 1803-1815. The allies had encircled the town on 17 March 1812 and started an intense bombardment of it on 31st of that month. However, it was not until 6th April that they stormed the castle. The Third Division, under Lieutenant-General Thomas Picton's command, scaled the walls. Picton was seriously wounded in the dramatic assault but refused to leave his post. The next day, in appreciation of their achievement, Picton gave every survivor under his command at the siege a guinea each. in 1813, Picton was knighted by the Prince Regent for services to the Army and was elected Member of Parliament for Pembroke Boroughs.