Thomas Pinckney

Thomas Pinckney was part of the notable and much accomplished Pinckney family of South Carolina. His brother Charles Cotesworth Pinckney and his cousin Charles Pinckney were signers of the Constitution.  Thomas presided over the state convention that ratified the Constitution.  He was governor of South Carolina, elected to Congress, and was appointed by Washington as the U.S. minister to Britain. In spite of his southern heritage, he was the choice of the Federalists for running mate to John Adams in the presidential election of 1796. Through convoluted and complicated machinations, Jefferson ended up VP.   Later Pinckney served as a major general in war of 1812.  Thomas Pinckey had an illustrious career of public service in politics and in the military that began in the Revolutionary war.  The following is a brief account of his character by one of his old soldiers.