Note 119 — JOURNAL (PART II)

William Pinkney had a long diplomatic career. Born in Annapolis, Maryland (1764), his father was a loyalist, but he joined the patriotic side in the Revolutionary War. He studied law with Judge Chase, and was admitted to the bar. In 1796 Washington appointed him commissioner of claims against Great Britain arising under Jay's Treaty of 1794, and on this business he remained in England until 1804. Two years later he was again a commissioner to England to treat regarding aggressions upon American commerce. In 1816 he was appointed minister to Russia. Returning to the United States, he was elected to the senate (1818), but died (1822), before the expiration of his term.—Ed.