Exhibits

Charles Cotesworth Pinckney

Delegates to the Constitutional Convention

[Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 1746-1825, full-length portrait, standing, facing right]. (c.1862) Library of Congress, Miscellaneous Items in High Demand. 

State: South Carolina

Age at Convention: 41

Date of Birth: 02/25/1746

Date of Death: 08/16/1825

Schooling: Oxford 1766, Middle Temple, London

Occupation: Lawyer, Plater, Soldier,  Politician

Prior Political Experience: South Carolina Lower House 1778 and 1782, State Senate 1779

Committee Assignments: Committee of Assumption of State Debts, Committee of Slave Trade

Convention Contributions: C.C. Pinckney attended the convention with spotless attendance. While there he advocated for a strong central government. He is perhaps most famous, or infamous, for his defense of the slave trade. William Pierce described how C.C. Pinckney “sometimes speaks well,-but he is generally considered an indifferent Orator.”
New Government Participation: After the revolution, Pinckney rutenly turned down offers of higher office, preferring his private life, until he finally accepted Adams offer as Minister to France in 1796. He served until 1798 during which time he was responsible for reporting the X,Y,Z affair to President Adams. He was the Federalist candidate for Vice President in 1800, and candidate for President in 1804 and 1808 although he did not actively campaign.