South Carolina Governors – Thomas Pinckney, 1787-1789

Biographical Overview

• Born: October 23, 1750 in Charleston, South Carolina
  
• Died: November 2, 1828 in Charleston, South Carolina
  
• Buried: Internment at St. Philip's Episcopal Church churchyard in Charleston, South Carolina
  
• Religion: Episcopal
  
• Political Party: Federalist
  

Education

• Oxford University - England
  
• French Military College - Caen, France
  
• Inner Temple - London, England
  

Occupations

• Lawyer
• Captain of Engineers, Continental Army
• Major General during the War of 1812
• Cattle breeder

Major Events and Accomplishments, 1787–1789

• May 12-23, 1788 – Governor Pinckney presided over the state convention that ratified the US Constitution
  
• May 23, 1788 – The Ratification Convention ratified the US Constitution
  
• November 4, 1788 – The General Assembly passed the Installment Act, allowing for the payment of debts in five installments
  

Other Government Positions

• US Minister to Great Britain, 1792-1796
  
• Envoy Extraordinary to Spain, 1794-1795
  
• US House of Representatives, 1797-1801
  

Other Accomplishments, Honors, Distinctions

• 1774 – Pinckney was a member of both the British bar and the American bar
  
• 1795 – As Envoy Extraordinary to Spain, Pinckney negotiated a treaty setting the boundary between the US and Spanish lands in North America
  

Election Results

• In 1787, the South Carolina General Assembly elected Pinckney for governor by secret ballot.
  

Web Resources

• Biographical information - US Congress
  
• Biographical sketch - course-notes.org
  
• Listing of records available at SC Archives and History Center