proved conqueror in the lists. But the victory had its drawback, and so ostentatious a display of erudition brought with it the then inevitable result. Learning, as has too often happened, was construed by the church into heresy or something worse; and certain of Pico's theses were denounced to Pope Innocent VIII., who ordered a strict inquiry to be made, for the purpose of ascertaining in how far they were pervaded by the genuine heretical or infidel flavour. Pico defended himself, asserting his orthodoxy. The pope condemned the theses, but acquitted their author of any heretical intentions. After this Pico went to Florence, where Lorenzo de' Medici at that time held splendid sway, and at whose court genius and learning were ever welcome. There he wrote on the Platonic philosophy, and composed works on astrology (against that pretended science), ancient mythology, and biblical subjects. In 1491 he renounced all other learning, and devoted himself to the study of divinity. The career of this extraordinary scholar, famous rather for the precocious universality of his acquirements than for the productions of his pen, which are now buried in oblivion, was prematurely closed by his death at Florence, in November, 1494.—J. J.
PICTET, Benedict, a protestant divine, was born at Geneva, 30th May, 1655. On finishing his studies, in his twentieth year he travelled through various countries of Europe, and made the acquaintance of many learned men, as Daillé and Du Bosc in France, and Spanheim in Holland. He also visited England, and was introduced to its chief scholars and ecclesiastical dignitaries. On his return to his native city he assumed the pastoral office, and became professor of theology in 1702, having refused a similar situation at Leyden. He died in 1724. His works are very numerous; many of them are disputations with the catholics, such as his "Défense de la Religion des Protestants," in 1716, and many on systematic theology, such as his "Théologie Chrétienne," in 1701, and his "Morale Chrétienne." He also wrote a popular "Histoire du Onzième Siècle." He was a man of great piety, and strove to infuse its true life into dogmatic theology. Some of his best compositions are hymns, sermons, and treatises on personal religion. Among the last may be named "L'Etat de bien vivre et de bien mourir," and "Prieres pour tous les jours de la semaine."—J. E.
PICTET DE ROCHEMONT, Charles, was born at Geneva in 1755, spent some years in military service, and afterwards retired to the seclusion of his estates, where he devoted himself to literary and agricultural pursuits. In 1815 he entered public life, and appeared as a negotiator for Switzerland at Paris, Vienna, and Berlin. On the final downfall of Napoleon, Pictet again took an active part in the affairs of his country, and was once more sent to those capitals as minister plenipotentiary of Switzerland. Assisted by his brother he conducted the Bibliothèque Universelle; and was also the translator of Paley, Byron, and Scott. He wrote several works on agricultural subjects. He died in 1824.—W. J. P.
PICTET, Marc Auguste, brother of the preceding, was born at Geneva in 1752, and succeeded Saussure in the chair of natural philosophy in the university of his native town. He was one of the conductors of the Bibliothèque Universelle, and wrote several works bearing principally on the science he professed. He died in 1825 at Geneva.—W. J. P.
PICTON, Sir Thomas, G.C.B., a distinguished general, was the second son of John Picton, Esq., of Poyston in Pembrokeshire, at which place he was born in 1758. Having determinately chosen a military life, he obtained an ensigncy in the 12th regiment of foot in 1771, and served as such under his uncle. Lieutenant-colonel Picton, to whose wise instruction and his own early and zealous attention to the discipline and pursuits of his profession he owed much of his subsequent renown. Some six years afterwards he was promoted to a lieutenancy; but becoming soon tired of the garrison duty at Malta, where his regiment was stationed, he exchanged into the 75th, in which he was gazetted captain. However, he did not gain the purpose for which he had taken this step, for he found that he had removed from his regiment just in time to preclude the possibility of his sharing with it the siege of Gibraltar; and while his old comrades were thus engaged with a terrible activity, he was doomed to spend the next five years in the unpalatable monotony of provincial towns and home garrisons. Upon his regiment being disbanded, he retired on half-pay to Pembrokeshire, where he spent twelve years in the enjoyment of field sports, the study of classics, and, as though possessing some foreboding of his destiny, in mastering the art of war. At the commencement of the war between England and France in 1793, he repeatedly applied for reappointment to active service, until at last, wearied with evasive replies, he went on his own responsibility to the West Indies, with the hope of receiving a commission from Sir John Vaughan, who was the commander-in-chief of that station, and through whom his desires were realized. Sir Ralph Abercrombie coming out to replace Sir John Vaughan, Picton was afterwards superseded, but as volunteer aid-de-camp assisted Sir Ralph in the attack on St. Lucia, for which service he received a lieutenant-colonelcy, and in this capacity he was present at the battle of St. Vincent. At the close of the campaign he returned home with Abercrombie, to accompany him back, however, in 1797 to the West Indies, when upon the reduction of Trinidad he was appointed its governor. Though under his rule the island became so formidable a commercial rival to the neighbouring continent, that the governors of Caracca and Guiana offered a reward of twenty thousand dollars for his head, it was there also he gained great dishonour; for whilst there he was applied to by a Spanish magistrate to sign an order for torturing a female slave, and being told it was a customary practice, he signed it without inquiry. This act was the cause of his being brought to trial in 1806, and the jury found him guilty; but as many exaggerated rumours had preceded the colonel to England, a new trial was granted, by which he was acquitted of legal guilt. In 1809 he was at the siege of Flushing, and was appointed its governor, but driven thence by fever to England. Having recovered, he joined the army in the Peninsula, and in that season of awful bloodshed was associated with such historic names as Badajos, Ciudad-Rodrigo, and Vittoria, as the victorious leader of the "fighting division." On returning home at the end of the war he was invested with the order of the bath, received the thanks of parliament, and was elevated to the rank of knight grand cross. But when Napoleon escaped from Elba, Picton was again found in full service. At the battle of Waterloo, June 18, 1815, although two of his ribs had been broken by a cannon ball the preceding day at Quatre-Bras, he led the fifth division to that awful struggle with five times their number, in which his followers conquered, while their leader fell. Monuments designed to perpetuate his fame have been erected in St. Paul's Cathedral and at Caermarthen.—D. T.
* PIERCE, Franklin, ex-president of the United States, was born at Hillsborough, New Hampshire, on the 23rd November, 1804. He was educated under the eye of his father, a rigid democrat of the revolutionary era, and at the age of twenty went to Northampton to study law. Thence he proceeded to Amherst and entered the office of Judge Parker. He was admitted to the bar in 1827, and two years later was elected to represent his native place in the state legislature. In 1833 he was sent to congress, where he showed himself an effective speaker and a good man of business. He was elected senator in 1837, and took a prominent part in the opposition offered by the democratic party to the election of Henry Clay to the presidency. In 1842 he was compelled to retire from political life, and devote himself to the practice of his profession for the sake of his family. The Mexican war, however, in 1847, called him forth again. He served through the campaign as a volunteer, was wounded in the knee at the battle of Contrera, and he returned home with the rank of brigadier-general, and a large accession of popularity. In 1852 he was put forward by the democrats as candidate for the office of president, against his former commander, General Scott, the whig candidate. Mr. Pierce was elected by a large majority, and included in his cabinet two men who have since appeared as leading antagonists in the civil war, Mr. M'Clellan and Mr. Jefferson Davis. His administration was marked by a restless and agitating foreign policy. A rupture with England on points connected with the Bulwer-Clayton treaty, was only just avoided. Mexico was called to account for an encroachment of the frontier. Spain was threatened with the loss of Cuba. Filibustering expeditions were encouraged. The Monroe doctrine was loudly proclaimed as the creed of the government. In domestic policy no event occurred of more importance than Mr. Pierce's strong disapproval of the efforts of the abolitionists of slavery. In 1856 he sought to be re-elected, but his own party had another candidate, Mr. Buchanan, who was elected to succeed Mr. Pierce.—R. H.
PIERMARINI, Giuseppe, a celebrated Italian architect, was born at Foligno, July 18, 1734. He studied architecture
