"Thomas Pinckney" by John Trumbull is a depiction of the American statesman, military officer, and diplomat who played a significant role in early U.S. history. Thomas Pinckney was an officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and played a notable role in key Southern campaigns. Pinckney served under General Horatio Gates in the disastrous Battle of Camden (August 16, 1780) in South Carolina. Pinckney was wounded and taken prisoner by the British after the battle. After his capture, he was held as a prisoner of war until he was exchanged in 1781. Following his release, he resumed his service in the Continental Army under General Nathanael Greene, who led the American forces in reclaiming the South from British control. As a Diplomat, Pinckney was best known for negotiating Pinckney’s Treaty (1795) with Spain, which secured American navigation rights on the Mississippi River. Pinckney also served as Governor of South Carolina and was later a Federalist candidate for Vice President in 1796.
