Pinckney, Elizabeth Lucas (c. 1722–c. 1793)

Colonial planter. Pinckney was probably born in Antigua, where her British father was the lieutenant-governor. After being educated in England, she arrived with her family in South Carolina in 1738. In her father's absence, she managed three family plantations and successfully planted indigo seeds – the first such in North America (1741–44). She married in 1744, and upon her husband's death in 1758, she again managed plantations on her own. She imported cocoons and raised silk worms.