Ninian Pinkney

Ninian Pinkney
Ninian Pinkney, Fleet Surgeon, Mississippi Squadron, photographed at St. Louis, Missouri, circa 1864.
Born	(1811-06-17)June 17, 1811 Hammond-Harwood House, Annapolis, Maryland
Died	December 15, 1877(1877-12-15) (aged 66) Easton, Maryland
Allegiance	United States of America Union
Service/branch	United States Navy Union Navy
Years of service	1834—1873
Rank	Medical Director
Battles/wars	American Civil War
Awards	doctor of laws degree from his alma mater, St. John's College

For other persons named Pinkney, see Pinkney

Ninian Pinkney (17 June 1811 – 15 December 1877), born in the Hammond-Harwood House in Annapolis, Maryland, graduated from St. John's College, Annapolis, Maryland, in 1829, and from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1833. He spent his entire naval career in the Navy helping to develop the field of surgery and medicine. He was especially prominent—and praised—during the American Civil War.

Appointed an assistant surgeon in the United States Navy on 26 March 1834, Pinkney received orders to the sloop of war Erie on 5 May. Ordered to report by 20 June, he joined the ship at Boston, Massachusetts, on 24 June, shortly before she sailed for the Brazil Station. Detached from Erie on 18 September 1837, he began two months of leave on 20 September, later changed to "waiting orders." Ordered to duty at the Naval Asylum at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 9 April 1838, he was detached from that duty on 2 April 1839, receiving one month of leave. He then joined the frigate Brandywine, assigned to the Mediterranean Squadron, on 17 August, shortly after she was recommissioned.

On 12 February 1840, Commodore Isaac Hull, commanding the squadron, ordered Pinkney to return to the United States, and the assistant surgeon reported his arrival on 24 April. Ordered thence, on 12 October 1840, to the storeship Relief, on the Pacific Squadron, Pinkney later served again on board Erie. He was promoted to surgeon on 27 October 1841.