Governor Charles Pinckney
Charles Pinckney (b. October 26, 1757; d. October 29, 1824) was a lawyer and politician from South Carolina who served as Governor of that state on three occasions. He attended the Federal Constitutional Convention, where he played a critical role in drafting the United States Constitution. [1]
Contents
Early Life
Charles Pinckney was born in Charleston, South Carolina. He was homeschooled, studying first with private tutors and later with his father. He was admitted to the bar in 1779. [2]
Military Service
In 1779, Pinckney enlisted in the South Carolina militia, eventually rising to the rank of lieutenant. became a lieutenant. He fought at the siege of Savannah, and was later taken prisoner during the fall of Charleston in 1780. He remained a prisoner of war until June of 1781. [3]
Continental Congress
Pinckney was appointed to the Continental Congress in 1785, and served through 1787. [4] During his time in Congress, he served as a strong voice for nationalism and increased congressional power. [5]
Constitutional Convention
Pinckney played an important role at the Constitutional Convention in 1787; in fact, he claimed to have been the most influential representative, and to have submitted a draft which served as the basis of the finalized United States Constitution. While these claims are viewed with skepticism by historians, they nonetheless agree that his role was a vital one, and that his influence in shaping the Constitution was considerable. [6]
Later Political Service
Following the Constitutional Convention, Pinchkey attended the State constitutional conventions in 1788 and 1790 and served as president; in this capacity, he worked hard to ensure ratification. He became Governor of South Carolina in 1789, and served until 1792; later, he would again serve as Governor from 1796-1798. Following his second term as Governor, he was elected in 1798 as a Democratic Republican to the United States Senate, serving until his resignation in 1801. Pinckney was appointed Minister to Spain in 1801, remaining in this position until 1804; following this, he embarked on a third term as Governor of South Carolina, serving from 1806-1808. In 1819, Pinckney was elected to the Sixteenth Congress, serving until 1821. [7]
Death
Pinckney died in Charleston, South Carolina, on October 29, 1824; he was buried in St. Philip’s Churchyard.
References
- ↑ http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=P000354
- ↑ http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=0696c9eea881a010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e449a0ca9e3f1010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD
- ↑ http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_founding_fathers_south_carolina.html#Pinckney
- ↑ http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=P000354
- ↑ A nationalist, he worked hard in Congress to ensure that the United States would receive navigation rights to the Mississippi and to strengthen congressional power.
- ↑ http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_founding_fathers_south_carolina.html#Pinckney
- ↑ http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=P000354