Thomas Pinckney
| Thomas Pinckney | |
|---|---|
 |
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| 36th Governor of South Carolina | |
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In office February 20, 1787 – January 26, 1789 |
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| Lieutenant | Thomas Gadsden |
| Preceded by | William Moultrie |
| Succeeded by | Charles Pinckney |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 1st district |
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In office November 23, 1797 – March 4, 1801 |
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| Preceded by | William L. Smith |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Lowndes |
| United States Minister to Great Britain | |
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In office August 9, 1792 – July 27, 1796 |
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| Appointed by | George Washington |
| Preceded by | John Adams |
| Succeeded by | Rufus King |
| Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from St. Philip's and St. Michael's Parish | |
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In office January 3, 1791 – December 20, 1791 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
October 23, 1750 Charleston, South Carolina |
| Died | November 2, 1828 (aged 78) Charleston, South Carolina |
| Political party | Federalist |
| Alma mater |
Westminster School Oxford University |
| Profession | Planter |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch |
Continental Army United States Army |
| Years of service | 1775–1783, 1812–1815 |
| Rank |
 Major (Continental Army) Major general (US Army) |
| Unit |
 1st South Carolina Regiment
|
| Battles/wars |
Revolutionary War • Battle of Camden War of 1812 |
Thomas Pinckney (October 23, 1750 – November 2, 1828) was an early American statesman from South Carolina, a diplomat and veteran officer of both the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, achieving the rank of major general. A cotton and rice planter, he served as Governor of South Carolina, 1787-1789, US minister to Great Britain under President George Washington, and as a United States Representative.
Pinckney was born in Charleston, South Carolina, where his father, Charles Pinckney, was a prominent colonial official. His mother Eliza Lucas was also from a prominent family, and was known for her introduction of indigo culture to the colony. When Pinckney was 3, his father took the family to Great Britain on colonial business, where he died in 1758. His mother kept the family in Great Britain, and Pinckney continued his education at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford, also studying in France.
At the age of 24, Pinckney returned to South Carolina in 1774, becoming an ardent Patriot in the American Revolution. In 1775 he was commissioned as captain in the 1st South Carolina Regiment of the Continental Army.
After seeing much action, he became an aide-de-camp to General Horatio Gates, and was captured by the British at the disastrous Battle of Camden in 1780. By that time he had married and had an infant child. He was allowed to recuperate from his wounds at his mother-in-law Rebecca Brewton Motte's plantation outside Charleston. In 1781 he and his family traveled to Philadelphia, where he was released by the British in a prisoner exchange. Pinckney returned to the South and that year fought under the Marquis de Lafayette in Virginia.
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