Cesar Picton was a formerly enslaved African child, taken from Senegambia in West Africa and gifted to a British politician. He rose to become a wealthy coal merchant and property owner in 18th- and 19th-century England, defying the odds and overcoming the harsh realities of his early life.
Cesar Picton was born around 1755 in Senegambia, a region in West Africa that was a key center for the transatlantic slave trade. His exact family background is unknown, but he was likely born into an Islamic family, as many people in Senegambia had converted to Islam by this time.
During the Seven Years’ War (1756–1763), a global conflict involving most of the European great powers, the British seized control of Senegal from France in 1758, intensifying their involvement in the region’s slave trade. Amidst this occupation, a British army officer acquired the young African, who was by then about six years old. In November 1761, the officer transported him to England and presented him as a “gift” to Sir John Philipps, 6th Baronet, a wealthy Anglo-Welsh politician.
Once in England, the Philipps family baptized and christened the young boy “Cesar.” At this stage, he did not yet have a surname. Like many African servants in wealthy English homes, Picton was dressed in luxurious yet exoticized clothing, a reflection of the 18th-century fascination with Black servants as decorative and prestigious additions to elite households.
Despite his role as a servant, Picton’s position was distinct from that of an enslaved labourer. He earned a respected place within the Philipps household, with Lady Elizabeth Philipps showing particular favor toward him. By the time he was 33, the writer Horace Walpole noted in a letter from 1788 that the Philipps sisters had a “favourite black” in their household who was “remarkably sensible”.
Picton’s life took a major turn after the death of his owner, Sir John Philipps in 1764 and Lady Philipps in 1788. As a trusted and respected member of the household, Picton received £100 from Lady Philipps in her will. Rather than continuing in service, he chose to invest this money in business, marking the beginning of his remarkable transformation from a domestic servant to an independent entrepreneur.
He established himself as a coal merchant in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey. Given his long-standing connections with wealthy families in the area, he likely had a ready-made customer base. His choice of the surname “Picton” may have been inspired by Picton Castle in Pembrokeshire, Wales, which was the Philipps family’s ancestral home. Interestingly, Picton Castle was located in an area known for coal mining, suggesting that his early exposure to the industry may have influenced his business decisions.
Initially, Picton rented premises at 52 High Street, Kingston upon Thames, which backed onto the River Thames. This was a strategic location, allowing him to transport and store coal efficiently. By 1795, Picton had achieved enough financial success to purchase the property outright, along with a wharf for unloading coal and a malthouse. Over time, he expanded his coal business, amassing considerable wealth.
By 1807, at the age of 52, Picton began winding down his business activities. He rented out his Kingston properties and moved to a house in Tolworth, a quieter and more rural area. By 1816, he had accumulated enough wealth to purchase a house with a large garden in Thames Ditton for £4,000.
By this point, documents began referring to him as a “gentleman,” a title that indicated social respectability and financial independence. This was a remarkable achievement for a man who had been brought to England as a child slave decades earlier.
Cesar Picton passed away in 1836 at the age of 81. He was buried at All Saints Church, Kingston upon Thames.
Though his name is not as widely known as other historical Black Britons such as Olaudah Equiano or Ignatius Sancho, Picton’s life is an extraordinary example of resilience, adaptability, and economic success.
Today, Cesar Picton House, his former residence in Kingston, along with his property in Thames Ditton, have both been granted listed status, a recognition of their historical and architectural significance. These buildings now display commemorative plaques, ensuring that his remarkable legacy endures.
Sources:
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1080069?section=official-list-entry
https://web.archive.org/web/20070108154726/http://www.untoldlondon.org.uk/news/ART41941.html
https://books.google.com/books?id=APAGTkN1YX4C&dq=Cesar+Picton&pg=PA77
