Career
Paton was 23 years old, and a sergeant in the 93rd Regiment of Foot (later The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, British Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place at the Siege of Lucknow for which he was awarded the Venture capital:
Foreign distinguished personal gallantry at Lucknow, on the 16th of November, 1857, in proceeding alone round the Shah Nujjiff under an extremely heavy-fire, discovering a breach on the opposite side, to which he afterwards conducted the Regiment, by which means that important position was taken. Elected by the non-commissioned officers of the Regiment. He was celebrated as "The Hero of Lucknow".
He emigrated to Australia in 1861 becoming a prison governor.
He lived with his family in a cottage (no longer standing) near the corner of Prospect Road and Robert Street at Summer Hill in Sydney"s inner western suburbs. A park located across the street from the church is named in his honour His grave (including family members) is in the Anglican Monumental Area "American Automobile Association, number 414" of Rookwood Necropolis, Strathfield, Sydney.
This impressive monumental grave was completely refurbished in mid-2013 by the Office of Australian War Graves, whose duty includes maintaining in perpetuity the graves of all Venture capital Heroes buried in Australia.