Charles Cotesworth Pinckney

Pinckney c. 1795-96, by James Earl, oil on canvas, Worcester Art Museum

Date of Birth: February 25, 1746

Place of Birth: Charleston, South Carolina, British America

Date of Death: August 16, 1825

Place of Death: Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.

Ethnicity: English

Charles Cotesworth Pinckney was an American statesman, politician, and Founding Father. A member of the Federalist Party, he served as U.S. Minister to France, from September 9, 1796 to February 5, 1797. He was a veteran of the Revolutionary War and a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1787, where he signed the constitution.

He was the Federalist Party’s nominee for Vice President of the United States, in 1800, and for President of the United States, in 1804 and 1808. He was previously a candidate for the Federalist Party’s 1796 and 1800 presidential nominations.

Charles was the first major party nominee for President of the United States who never ended up serving as president.

Charles was the son of Eliza (Lucas) Pinckney, a planter and agriculturist, and Charles Pinckney, a politician and colonial agent, who was chief justice of the Province of South Carolina. His mother was born in Antigua and Barbuda, and developed indigo as one of the most important cash crops in South Carolina. His brother, Thomas Pinckney, was a statesman and politician, who was Governor of South Carolina, from February 20, 1787 to January 26, 1789, U.S. Minister to Great Britain, from August 9, 1792 to July 27, 1796, a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina, from November 23, 1797 to March 3, 1801, and a Federalist Party candidate for Vice President of the United States in 1796. His first cousin, once removed, Charles Pinckney, was a politician, who also served as Governor of South Carolina, and also signed the U.S. constitution.

Charles was married to Sarah Middleton, until her death, and then to Mary Stead, until his death. He had three children.

Charles’s paternal grandfather was named Thomas Pinckney (the son of Richard Pinckney and Catherine). Thomas was born in Bishop Aukland, Durham, England. Richard was the son of Richard Pinckney and Grace Archer.

Charles’s paternal grandmother was Mary Cotesworth (the daughter of Charles Cotesworth and Ann Kipling). Mary was born in Eggleston, Quarter, Middleton-In-Teesdale, England. Charles’s great-grandfather Charles Cotesworth was the son of Charles Cotesworth.

Charles’s maternal grandfather was named George Lucas (the son of John Lucas).

Charles’s maternal grandmother was named Ann/Anne Mildrum.

Source: Genealogy of Charles Cotesworth Pinckney – https://www.geni.com